静夜思

床前明月光,疑是地上霜。

举头望明月,低头思故乡。

Nostalgia

A splash of white on my bedroom floor。 Hoarfrost?

I raise my eyes to the moon, the same moon。

As scenes long past come to mind, my eyes fall again on the splash of white, and my heart aches for home。

(翁显良 译)

Quiet Night Thoughts

Moonlight before my bed,

Could it be frost instead?

Head up, I watch the moon;

Head down, I think of home。

(赵甄陶 译)

Thoughts in the Still of the Night

A pool of moonlight before the bed,

Took it to be frost on the ground。

Raised my head to gaze at the moon,

And lowered it to think of home。

(任治稷、余正 译)

Thoughts in a Quiet Night

Moonlight there is afore my bed,

I doubt if it’s frost on the ground。

To gaze at the moon, I lift my head,

When bending low, thoughts of home abound。

(顾绶昌 译)

Reflections on a Quiet Night

Before my bed shine bright the silver beams,

It seems the autumn frost on the ground so gleams。

I gaze upwards toward the moon in the skies,

And downwards look when a nostalgia does arise。

(万昌盛、王间中 译)

Thoughts in the Silent Night

Beside my bed a pool of light—

Is it hoarfrost on the ground?

I lift my eyes and see the moon,

I bend my head and think of home。

(杨宪益、戴乃迭 译)

In the still of the night

I descry bright moonlight in front of bed。

I suspect it to be hoary frost on the floor。

I watch the bright moon, as I tilt back my head。

I yearn, while stooping, for my homeland more。

(徐忠杰 译)

A Tranquil Night

Abed, I see a silver light,

I wonder if It’s frost around。

Looking up, I find the moon bright;

Bowing, in homesickness I’m drowned。

(许渊冲 译 1984)

A Tranquil Night

Before my bed a pool of light。

Can it be hoarfrost on the ground?

Looking up, I find the moon bright;

Bowing, in homesickness I’m drowned。

(许渊冲 译 2004)

Thoughts on a Tranquil Night

Before my bed a pool of light—

Can it be hoar-frost on the ground?

Looking up, I find the moon bright;

Bowing, in homesickness I’m drowned。

(许渊冲 译 2005)

Thoughts on a Tranquil Night

Before my bed a pool of light—

O can it be hoar-frost on the ground?

Looking up, I find the moon bright;

Bowing, in homesickness I’m drowned。

Notes: Seeing a pool of moonlight, the poet is drowned in the pond of homesickness。

(许渊冲 译 2006)

Homesickness in a Silent Night

Before my bed the silver moonbeams spread—

I wonder if it is the frost upon the ground。

I see the moon so bright when raising my head,

Withdrawing my eyes my nostalgia comes around。

(屠笛、屠岸 译)

Thoughts at Night

The watery moonbeams bathe the ground before my bed,

I doubt if there is frost。

Holding my head to look at the moon bright,

Unwittingly makes me miss my home。

(王力伟 译)

Still Night Thoughts

Moonlight in front of my bed —

I took it for frost on the ground!

I lift my eyes to watch the mountain moon,

lower them and dream of home。

(Burton Watson 译)

In the Quiet Night

So bright a gleam on the foot of my bed—

Could there have been a frost already?

Lifting myself to look, I found that it was moonlight。

Sinking back again, I thought suddenly of home。

(Witter Bynner 译)

Night Thoughts

As by my bed

the moon did beam,

It seemed as if with frost the earth were spread。

But soft I raise

My head, to gaze

At the fair moon。 And now,

With head bent low,

Of home I dream。

(John Turner 译)

Night Thoughts

I wake, and moonbeams play around my bed,

Glittering like hoar-frost to my wandering eyes;

Up towards the glorious moon I raise my head,

Then lay me down—and thoughts of home arise。

(Herbert A。 Giles 译)

On a Quiet Night

I saw the moonlight before my couch,

And wondered if it were not the frost on the ground。

I raised my head and looked out on the mountain moon,

I bowed my head and thought of my far-off home。

(S Obata 译)

The Moon Shines Everywhere

Seeing the Moon before my couch so bright

I thought hoar frost had fallen from the night。

On her clear face I gaze with lifted eyes:

Then hide them full of Youth‘s sweet memories。

(W J B Fletcher 译)

Night Thoughts

On bed bright moon shone,

Thought frost on ground foamed,

Raised head faced bright moon,

Lowered head dreamt of home。

(Wong Man 译)

Night Thoughts

The bright moon shone

before my bed,

I wondered—

was it frost upon the ground?

I raised my head

to gaze at the clear moon,

Bowed my head

remembering my old home。

(Innes Herdan 译)

Thoughts in a Tranquil Night

Athwart the bed

I watch the moonbeams cast a trail

So bright, so cold, so frail,

That for a space it gleams

Like hoar-frost on the margin of my dreams。

I raise my head,—

The splendid moon I see:

Then droop my head,

And sink to dreams of thee—

My fatherland, of thee!

(L。 Cranmer-Byng 译)

Night Thoughts

In front of my bed the moonlight is very bright。

I wonder if that can be frost on the floor?

I lift up my head and look at the full moon, the dazzling moon。

I drop my head, and think of the home of old days。

(Amy Lowell 译)

Calm Night Thought

The moon light is on the floor luminous

I thought it was frost, it was so white

Holding up head I look at mountain moon

that makes me lower head

lowering head think of old home

alternate lines:

mountain

looking up I find it to be the moon

(Ezra Pound 译)

Meditation in a Quiet Night

The moon shines brightly

In front of my bed。

It was frost on the ground

I thought and said。

I gaze at the bright moon,

Raising my head。

I miss my native place

When I bend my head。

(唐一鹤 译)

Homesickness in a Quiet, Moonlit Night

What bright beams are beside my bed in room!

Could on the ground there be the frost so soon?

Lifting my head I see a big full moon,

Only to bend to think of my sweet home。

(王大濂 译)