A moon rising white
Is the beauty of my lovely one.
Ah, the tenderness, the grace!
Heart’s pain consumes me.
A moon rising bright
Is the fairness of my lovely one.
Ah, the gentle softness!
Heart’s pain wounds me.
A moon rising in splendour
Is the beauty of my lovely one.
Ah, the delicate yielding!
Heart’s pain torments me.
translated by Arthur Waley