The pinyin version of the Shui Diao Ge Tou poem by Su Shi is as follows:
Shuǐ Diao diào Ge Tou gē Tou tóu Ming míng month yuè several jǐ when shí have ǒu.
Bingbǐngchenchénzhongzhōngqiūqiū, joyful drinking yǐn up to dádandàn, big drunk zuì, zuò this cǐpian piān, and jiān pregnant with huáizi ziyouyóu.
What time will the moon and moon rise tomorrow? Ask about bǎ wine and wine. I don’t know what year the emperor will be on this day.
I want to take advantage of the wind and wind to return home, but I am also afraid that the Qiongqióng building will have jade and jade in the sky. When dancing and dancing, the nòng is clear and the shadows are clear. How can it be that there are four people in the world?
Turn around the Zhuzhū Pavilion, behind the low-rise Qihu household, and illuminate the room without sleep. It doesn't mean that there should be hatred, why is it that the long and long directions are opposite to each other and the opposite direction is round and round?
Everyone has sadness, happiness, separation, and union, the moon has yin, clear, qíng, round, yun, and quē. This is an ancient gǔ that is difficult to complete. But I hope that everyone will grow up for a long time, and the beauty will be beautiful for thousands of miles.
Translation
On the Mid-Autumn Festival of the Bingchen year, I drank happily (until) the (next) morning, (drunk) very drunk, and wrote this (word) , and miss (brother) Ziyou at the same time. When did the bright moon appear? He picked up his wine glass and asked Qingtian. I don’t know what year it is tonight in the palace in the sky.
I want to ride the cool breeze back to the sky, but I am afraid that the beautiful jade buildings in the Moon Palace cannot withstand the cold of nine days. Dancing and enjoying the clear shadows under the moon, returning to the moon palace is nothing compared to being in the human world. The moon turned around the vermilion pavilion and hung low on the carved windows, illuminating those who were not sleepy (referring to the poet himself).
The bright moon shouldn’t have any resentment towards people. Why does it become full only when people part ways? People have changes in joys and sorrows, and the moon has changes in waxing and waning. This kind of thing has been difficult to understand since ancient times. I hope that my loved ones can be safe and healthy, and that they can enjoy this beautiful moonlight even though they are thousands of miles apart.
Theme
The thoughts and emotions expressed in this poem are originally very obvious. Due to the frustration of Su Shi's political situation and the separation from his brother Su Che, he looked at the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival. No feeling of depression or melancholy. However, he did not fall into the negative and pessimistic mood. He immediately used his detached and optimistic thoughts to eliminate worries, and finally showed his love for human life.