Midnight Wu Song: Autumn
A sheet of moonlight covers Chang’an;
From countless homes comes the sound of pounding cloth.
The autumn wind cannot blow it away:
Every sound carries longing for the Jade Gate.
When will the fighting on the frontier end,
So a husband may cease his distant campaign?
Notes
Midnight Wu Song is an old Yuefu title. Pounding cloth prepares or cleans fabric. The Jade Gate stands for the frontier; “ten thousand homes” is a poetic expression. The historical term for an opposing force belongs to its period.
Meaning
Moonlight and the sound of cloth being beaten evoke concern for people at the frontier and a wish for campaigns to end.
Appreciation
Moonlight, cloth-beating and autumn wind establish the night through several senses.
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“Countless homes” broadens a single family’s concern into a shared experience.
The Jade Gate joins the capital to distant frontier service.
The final question hopes for the end of fighting and a return home.
About the poet
Li Bai (c. 701–762), courtesy name Taibai, was a Tang poet whose travels inspired many poems about landscapes, friendship and journeys.
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Life: Li Bai grew up in the Shu region and traveled widely. He was summoned to serve at the Tang court before continuing his journeys.
Works: His poems include Thoughts on a Quiet Night, Viewing the Waterfall at Mount Lu and To Wang Lun.