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夜思 - Night Thoughts
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床 前 明
月 光 疑 是 地 上 霜 舉 頭 望 明 月 低 頭 思 故 鄉 |
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The poem, is titled 夜 思 (je6 si3 = Night + Thoughts). This was written during a period when
李 白 (lei5 baak6) was living away from home, and feeling homesick, would often stay awake at nights thinking. 床 前 明 月 光 cong4 cin4 ming4 jyut6 gwong1 The bright moonlight shines on the foot of my bed. 疑 是 地 上 霜 ji4 si6 dei6 soeng6 soeng1 Can there be frost on the ground? 舉 頭 望 明 月 geoi2 tau4 mong6 ming4 jyut6 I lift my head to see the bright moon. 低 頭 思 故 鄉 dai1 tau4 si3 gu3 hoeng3 Lowering my head, I think of home. This has such a beauty in it's simplicity, that makes it popular amongs schools. I think almost everyone who has been to a chinese school that includes chinese literature will know this poem off by heart. Anyway, on to a slightly more in depth analysis... Seeing the bright light on his bed, he suspects that it is light reflecting from the frost. 懷 疑 = suspect. Upon lifting his head and seeing the bright moon, he realises that he was wrong. Thinking of frost, reminds him of his home town, (obviously a cold place) whilst at the same time, looking at the moon itself reminds him of home, because it is that same moon which will be shining over his home and his family. Many thanks to Jewels (for posting the poem), Nanimo (for her great analysis) and all the people who took the time to send in their recordings. |
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