Quiet Night Thoughts - Li Bai's Classic Poem in English Translation

Quiet Night Thoughts

'Quiet Night Thoughts' is a celebrated poem by the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai, renowned for its evocative imagery and poignant expression of homesickness.

Original Chinese:

床前明月光，疑是地上霜。举头望明月，低头思故乡。

English Translation:

'The bright moonlight before my bed,I suspect it to be frost on the ground.I lift my head to gaze at the moon,And lower it to think of my hometown.'

Analysis:

Li Bai's poem captures the simple yet profound experience of looking at the moon and feeling a pang of longing for home. The opening lines create a vivid image of the moonlight illuminating the poet's bed, so bright that he mistakes it for frost. This sets the stage for the poem's central theme of homesickness.

The image of lifting the head to gaze at the moon and then lowering it to think of home is both physically and emotionally evocative. It suggests a cyclical motion of hope and despair, as the poet momentarily finds solace in the beauty of the moon before being overwhelmed by thoughts of his distant home.

'Quiet Night Thoughts' remains one of Li Bai's most beloved poems, resonating with readers across cultures and generations. It speaks to the universal human experience of longing and the comforting power of nature.