定知玉兔十分圓，
As in ninth month, the wind is blowing frosty cold.
已作霜風九月寒。
Tell the Moon Goddess not to lock her door tonight,
寄語重門休上鉤，
'Tis best to watch the tidal bore in the moonlight.
夜潮留向月中看。
'Tis best to watch the tidal bore in the moonlight.
二
The Southerners are scared at ten thousand men's roar
萬人鼓噪懾吳依，
As if downstream came conquerors' warships and glaives.
猶是浮江老阿童。
If you want to know how high is the tidal bore,
欲識潮頭高幾許，
See the Southern hills mingle with white-crested waves.
越山渾在浪花中。
See the Southern hills mingle with white-crested waves.
三
As water's flowing east, life is passing away,
江邊身世兩悠悠，
Long since man has white hair and waves have their white crest.
久與滄波共白頭。
The Creator fears lest our hair should too soon turn gray,
造物亦知人易老，
He orders the river to flow back to the west.
故教江水向西流。
He orders the river to flow back to the west.