I couldn’t bear the cold for nine days, so I danced and enjoyed the clear shadow under the moon.
It comes from "Shui Diao Ge Tou: When Will the Bright Moon Come" written by Su Shi, a great writer in the Song Dynasty, during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Mizhou (now Zhucheng City, Shandong Province) in 1076 AD (the ninth year of Xining, Shenzong of the Song Dynasty).
The excerpt is as follows:
I want to ride the wind back home, but I am afraid that the high places will be too cold. Dance and clear the shadow, how can it be like being in the human world?
The translation is as follows:
I want to ride the cool breeze back to the sky, but I am afraid that I cannot stand the cold for nine days in a building made of beautiful jade. Dancing gracefully and admiring the clear shadows under the moon, how does it feel like you are in the human world?
Extended information:
Creative background
This poem was written by the author when he was in Mizhou during the Mid-Autumn Festival in 1076 AD (the ninth year of Xining, Shenzong of the Song Dynasty). In 1074 AD (the seventh year of Xining), Su Shi sent a mission to Mizhou. After arriving in Michigan, this wish still could not be realized. In the Mid-Autumn Festival of 1076 AD, the bright moon was in the sky and silver lights were everywhere. The poet and his brother Su Che had not been reunited for seven years after they separated. At this moment, the poet faced a bright moon, his heart was ups and downs, so he took advantage of the wine and wrote this famous poem.
Appreciation of Works
Su Shi regards Qingtian as his friend and drinks wine, which shows his bold character and extraordinary courage. Li Bai's poem "Asking the Moon with Wine" says: "When will the moon come in the blue sky? I'll stop drinking today and ask." However, Li Bai's tone here is more relaxed, while Su Shi's tone is more concerned and urgent because he wants to fly to the moon palace.
"When will the bright moon come?" This question seems to be tracing the origin of the bright moon and the origin of the universe; it also seems to be marveling at the ingenuity of creation, from which we can feel the poet's praise and yearning for the bright moon.
Baidu Encyclopedia - Shui Tiao Ge Tou·When will the bright moon appear