154

Su Shih (1037–1101) wrote this poem in 1078 while serving as prefect of Hsuchou on the Grand Canal. He was joined on this occasion by his younger brother, Su Ch’e (1039–1112), with whom he had an unusually close relationship. Both brothers held numerous posts during their careers, and they spent much of their lives out of favor and far from the capital and their families. Still, as the last line suggests, both brothers made every effort to be together on this night, which was the eighth full moon and second in importance only to the lunar New Year as a time of family celebration. The wheel of jade that moves through the sky is the moon, and the Silver River, also known as the Long River or River of Heaven, is the Milky Way. Su composed this poem to be sung to the tune of “Yang Pass.”

Mid-Autumn Moon

SU SHIH

As evening clouds withdraw a clear cool air floods in

the jade wheel passes silently across the Silver River

this life this night has rarely been kind

where will we see this moon next year