How fair the lakes and hills of the Southeast land are,
With plains extending wide and far!
How oft, wine-cup in hand, have you been here
That you can make us linger though drunk we appear?
By Sandy River Pond the new-lit lamps are bright.
Who is singing “the water melody” at night?
When I come back, the wind goes down, the bright moon paves
With emerald glass the river waves.
湖山信是东南美。
一望弥千里。
使君能得几回来。
便使尊前醉倒、且徘徊。
沙河塘里灯初上。
水调谁家唱。
夜阑风静欲归时。
惟有一江明月、碧琉璃。
Su Shi (1037-1101)has been regarded by many as the greatest of Song pocts.This poem was written for Chen Xiang,governor of Hangzhou who feasted his subordinate officials in the Scenic Hall built on Mount Wu by the side of the West Lake,before he was going to leave office in 1074.
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