Lantern Festival in Poetry

每年的农历十五是元宵节，也称上元节。这是总共最重要的传统节日之一，标志着中国新年的结束。

The Lantern Festival, also known as the Shangyuan Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival that falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It is one of the most important and festive occasions in the Chinese calendar, marking the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

在古时，元宵节也被看作是“情人节”。古代女子平时一般足不出户，一年当中唯有元宵节这天晚上可以出门赏灯，未婚男女在灯会上传情达意，成就了无数美满的姻缘。

In ancient times, the Lantern Festival was also regarded as Valentine's Day. At that time, women usually didn’t go outside house. Only on the night of the Lantern Festival could they go out to enjoy the lanterns. Unmarried men and women expressed their feelings and love at this day.

中国古代的诗人也常以元宵节为灵感作诗，来表达他们的爱意思念等感情。让我们一起来欣赏这几首著名的诗词吧啊!

Ancient Chinese poets often wrote poems inspired by the Lantern Festival to express their love, lovesickness and other emotions. Let's appreciate these famous poems together!

　　生查子·元夕

　　欧阳修

　　去年元夜时，花市灯如昼。

　　月上柳梢头，人约黄昏后。

　　今年元夜时，月与灯依旧。

　　不见去年人，泪湿春衫袖。

　　Song of Hawthorn

　　Ouyang Xiu

　　Last year on lunar festive night,

　　Lanterns' mid blooms shone as daylight.

　　The moon rose atop willow tree;

　　My lover had a tryst with me.

　　This year on lunar festive night,

　　Moon and lanterns still shine as bright.

　　But where's my lover of last year?

　　My sleeves are wet with tear on tear.

　　鹧鸪天·元夕有所梦

　　姜夔

　　肥水东流无尽期。

当初不合种相思。

　　梦中未比丹青见，文章源自英文巴士

暗里忽惊山鸟啼。

　　春未绿，鬓先丝。

人间别久不成悲。

　　谁教岁岁红莲夜，两处沉吟各自知。

　　Tune: Partridge in the Sky

　　A Dream on the Night of Lantern Festival

　　Jiang Kui

　　The endless River Fei to the east keeps on flowing;

　　The love seed we once sowed forever keeps on growing.

　　Your face I saw in dream was not clear to my eyes

　　As in your portrait, soon I am wakened by birds’ cries.

　　Spring not yet green,

　　My grey hair seen,

　　Our separation’s been too long to grieve the heart.

　　Why make the past reappear

　　Before us from year to year

　　On Lantern Festival when we are far apart!

　　元夕

　　苏味道

　　火树银花合，星桥铁锁开。

　　暗尘随马去，明月逐人来。

　　游妓皆秾李，行歌尽落梅。

　　金吾不禁夜，玉漏莫相催。

　　The Lantern Festival Night

　　Su Weidao

　　The light is brightly,

　　tonight the no-go area is opening.

　　The horse gallop that stirred up the dust,

　　the moon seemed to follow the people.

　　The young singing girls look more beautiful,

　　they walk and sing songs.

　　The capital guards does not work tonight,

　　the drum will not urge the people back home.

　　青玉案·元夕

　　辛弃疾

　　东风夜放花千树，更吹落，星如雨。

　　宝马雕车香满路，凤萧声动，玉壶光转，一夜鱼龙舞。

　　蛾儿雪柳黄金缕，笑语盈盈暗香去。

　　众里寻他千百度，蓦然回首，那人却在，灯火阑珊处。

　　Tune: Green Jade Table

　　The Lantern Festival Night

　　Xin Qiji

　　One night's east wind adorns a thousand trees with flowers

　　And blows down stars in showers.

　　Fine steeds and carved cabs spread fragrance en route;

　　Music vibrates from the flute;

　　The moon sheds its full light

　　While fish and dragon lanterns dance all night.

　　In gold-thread dress, with moth or willow ornaments,

　　Giggling, she melts into the throng with trails of scents

　　But in the crowd once and again,

　　I look for her in vain.

　　When all at once I turn my head,

　　I find her there where lantern light is dimly shed.