Mid-Autumn Festival

Today is supposed to be when the moon is the roundest and biggest of the year. An exquisite poem named "水調歌頭" was written on this day in 1076AD by famous Chinese poet "Sou Sek" (1037-1101), while getting pissed drunk 'til dawn.

Background:

He was 39 years old, a government official. Both his father (a great writer) and wife had died. One year earlier he was demoted and reassigned to the middle of nowhere, as a result to his disagreement with the legislation in Beijing. He hadn't seen his brother (also a great writer) for seven years. The poem was written to express his frustration and loneliness. He also questioned the existence of heaven. Tradionally Mid-Autumn is when families get together and celebrate the full moon, think of it as Thanksgiving Day, only a few thousand years older.

Poem: (my very rough translation)

1. When is the moon full? (referring to another poet Li Bok's existentialism works)
2. I ask the sky with a toast.
3. In the palace of the heaven,
4. Who knows what year it is? (if it exists at all, there is no death)
5. I wish to return, riding the wind. (he was high, thinking himself a god)
6. But the jade garden is frightful.
7. I fear the frigid cold in the high place. (referring to a well-known fable where a girl went to the moon after stealing god's medicine only to find out there is no one, beautiful but cold.)
8. It's unlike here on earth,
9. Where people dance gracefully. (earthly entertainment, drink, sing, dance, etc)
10.Moon shines round the luxurious red house,
11.Into the skillfully crafted windows,
12.on a sleepless person.
13.The moon isn't here to play a joke on me, is it?
14.Why does it have to be the fullest when I'm the loneliest?
15.Being able to be with one's family and having a full moon at the same time has always been difficult.
16.Let's hope they live on forever.
17.Although they're far away, I hope they can enjoy what's in my view now.

Translation notes:

Cryptic writings, many hidden meanings, I try to reveal them, tranlation therefore not literal here and there.

Referential writings, lots of references, like a little one-liner can fill one page in order to fully explain.

He never said he was lonely, but it is quite obvious. He did say something to the effect of missing them.

He used "I" only once, on the fifth line. Subject was seldom used at the time, nor any pronouns.

It was written in ancient Chinese, like Shakespearean English, only older and it uses very efficient but few words to express difficult concepts.

This is only part of it (but best-known) that talks about Mid-Autumn Day, then it goes on about his brother.