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Reflections on a Quiet Night

Li Bai(Tang)

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.

Comment

The moon is the usual symbol of nostalgia in the works of most Chinese poets, however, this poem is a rare exception for its expressiveness and directness: a pool of light before the bed looks just like autumn hoarfrost at first glance. Is it really frost? The poet wonders. Upen a closer look he finds out it is the moonlight. In Chinese tradition the phases of the moon have always signified family separation and reunion. At this emotional moment the poet cannot but feel lonely and miss his family far away.

静夜思	J$ng Y= S!
唐李白	T2ng L# B2i

床前明月光，	Chu2ng qi2n m@ng yu= gu1ng,
疑是地上霜。	Y@ sh$ d$ sh4ng shu1ng.
举头望明月，	J& t6u w4ng m@ng yu=,
低头思故乡。	D! t6u s! g*xi1ng.

低

举

疑

床

静

头

是

前

思

望

地

明

唐

夜

故

明

上

月

乡

月

霜

光

李

思

。

，

。

，

白

方增先画

Pinyin

English version

注释 Notes

1.	李白(701-762)，唐代诗人，字太白，号青莲居士，绵州昌隆(四川江油)人。李白的诗歌想象丰富，豪放多变，富有浪漫主义精神，是唐代著名诗人。
2.	静夜思 J$ng y= s!：静夜，静静的夜晚；思，思念。
3.	疑 y@：怀疑。
4.	举头 j&t6u：抬头。

赏析 Comment

多数诗人笔下写到思念家乡时，总离不开月亮，这首诗更是直接。床前地上一片光亮，猛一看，白得就像一层秋霜，是秋霜吗？诗人寻找光源，原来是天上的月亮。月亮的圆缺象征着与亲人的团聚和分离。远在他乡的诗人不禁想念起家乡来了。 (English version)

Author

Li Bai (701-762)of the Tang Dynasty, styled Taibai, assumedly named Lay Buddhist at Qinglian, was born at Changlong in Mianzhou (now Jiangyou, Sichuan Province). A most celebrated poet of his time, he distinguished himself in poetry creation characterized wit rich veins of imagination, unconstrained boldness and a varied, romantic style.

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