Chang'e
Tang Dynasty: Li Shangyin
The candle shadow on the mica screen is deep, the long river is gradually setting and the dawn stars are sinking.
Chang'e should regret stealing the elixir, and her heart will be filled with blue sea and blue sky every night.
Translation and Notes
Translation
The candle shadow on the mica screen is dim, the Milky Way is gradually slanting and the morning stars are disappearing and low.
Chang'e should regret stealing the elixir of immortality, and now she is lonely in the sky facing the blue sea and sky every night.
Rhyme Translation
The mica screen is stained with a thick layer of candle shadow, and the Milky Way gradually slopes down and the morning star has sunk.
Chang'e must have regretted secretly taking the elixir, and now she is alone with the blue sea and sky, feeling chilled every night.
Notes
Chang'e: The original name is "Chang'e", now it is called "Chang'e", the mythical moon goddess, it is said that she was the wife of Hou Yi, the leader of Dongyi in Xia Dynasty.
Mica screen: a screen made of mica stone. Mica is a mineral with plate-like crystals and transparent and shiny crystals. It was often used to decorate windows, screens and other objects in ancient times.
Deep: dim.
Long River: Milky Way.
Diaoxing: Morning Star. Or it refers to the morning star, which appears in the east in the early morning.
Elixir: refers to the elixir of immortality.
Blue sea and blue sky: refers to Chang'e's boring life, where she could only see the blue sea and the dark blue sky. Bihai: Describes the blue sky as green as the sea.
Yeyexin: refers to Chang'e feeling lonely every night.