English中文
Mooring at Yueyang at Dusk
卧闻岳阳城里钟，
系舟岳阳城下树。
Lying here I hear the bells within the city of Yueyang; my boat is moored beneath the trees below the walls of Yueyang.
正见空江明月来，
云水苍茫失江路。
Then I see the bright moon come up over the empty river: cloud and water are vast and dim, and I lose the river road.
夜深江月弄清辉，
水上人歌月下归；
Deep in the night the river moon plays with its clear light; someone upon the water sings while returning home beneath the moon.
一阕声长听不尽，
轻舟短楫去如飞。
One song is long, and I cannot hear it out; the light boat with its short oars flies away.
Reading notes
城下树 and 月下归 follow the collected text. 系舟 means to moor a boat; 系 is read jì. 楫 is an oar. The third couplet describes a person singing while returning beneath the moon.