Tonight

by Xue Di

Tonight
Translated by Wang Ping & Keith Waldrop

Rock, September! A dark-skinned child
lights the lamp in the tower
Its golden orange shines at the moon
Rock, September! Tap on your water jar
in the evening breeze

My days are filled with secrets
But when? Can I make those I
love understand my wishes
by describing the chrysanthemum’s pistil
My brow is covered with candles
Trumpets bend towards happiness
trumpeting my joy
to the peaceable RhÈne

Love me! the RhÈne where antlers
disappear. Stars shine out above me
Songs from happy lips
as this wine jar of tonight’s sky
tilts towards my delight
Love me, September! Rock
Rock me with tripod feet
Shake me with the warm charm of your glaze
The dark-skinned boy is going home to the river
Tonight, my heart, here
you will feel no pain, no loneliness