#張繼

(This was my favorite poem when I was young, and the mental image it painted stayed with me for the next decade and a half, even though I forgot the title of the poem. That’s why finding this poem again was such a pain. I almost gave up trying to look for it on this poetry website, until I clicked on a random poem about autumn scenery, and there it was! Surprises do come when one least expects them.)

Night Aboard Moored Boat in Fengqiao (1)

By Zhang Ji (Tang dynasty, 8th century)

The moon had set, amidst frosty air and corvid calls,

Maple silhouettes and specks of light from passing vessels, 

Comforts of the homesick traveler in his sleep.

Outside of Gusu (2) was the Hanshan temple (3),

Tolling, tolling, the bell sounds (4) reaching this boat from afar.

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Notes:

1. Fengqiao: a small historical water town outside of Suzhou city, made famous by this poem.
2. Gusu: another name for Suzhou (蘇州), since mount Gusu (姑蘇山) is situated right by the city to the southwest.
3. Hanshan temple: a famous Buddhist temple near Suzhou city that still exists today. Also made famous by this poem.
4. Bell tolling at night, and especially on the eve of the new year, is a well-known tradition at Hanshan temple.

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Original Text (Traditional Chinese):

《楓橋(1)夜泊》

[唐] 張繼

月落烏啼霜滿天，江楓漁火對愁眠。

姑蘇城(2)外寒山寺(3)，夜半鐘聲(4)到客船。