Lantern Festival Night at Weisa Post

In the woods of Luodian,
At the foot of Mount Xinpan,
The hamlet bright drums high this Lantern Festival night.
The east wind sweeps and the dark clouds flee,
O'er the fields, the moon shines mid countless cold stars.

White snow and songs outside,
Green coins for liquor here inside,
Happy yesterday to whom could I confide?
In this solitary inn I sit depressed;
Across the lil window plum branches show in silhouette.
 

贵州尾洒驿元夕

罗甸林中，
新盘山下，
村灯社鼓元宵夜。
东风卷地瘴云开，
月明满野寒星挂。

白雪歌声，
青钱酒价，
当年乐事凭谁话?
寂寥孤馆坐愁人，
小窗横影梅枝桠。
 

Author: Yang Shen, AD 1488-1559, Ming Dynasty
Translator: Charlie Lu
Posted: May 14, 2022
Note:
1. Weisa was and still is a village in Guizhou province.
2. The "green" coins are bronze coins with green patina (verdigris).
3. In ancient China, papered windows were widely used; in the scene of this poem,
the plum branches outside show on the translucent window paper in silhouette.