Mooring at Night by Yunghsing Island

When the curtain of night hangs low in the South Sea
The sea water grows darker and darker;
Then up floats Yunghsing Island like a golden lotus,
Its twinkling lights stealing the glory of the stars.

Who are those figures in the lamplight
Coming and going on the sandy beach?
Whence comes the singing through the evening mist,
That bewitches even the waves?

Ah, the finishing boats are back from a long voyage,
The carrying-poles are swaying over the gangway;
And the men loading the boats by night with guano
Come with a long procession of creaking barrows.

The barrows tip out whole silver hills of guano,
The carrying-poles unload heaps of golden fish and prawns;
From here floats the joyful singing
In close time with the workers’ step.

The slumbering sea birds are wakened
And flit quietly under the lamplight;
The cool sea breeze laden with sweetness
Blows softly, bearing songs.

Ah, the night is late,
But the later the night, the brighter shine the lights,
The louder sounds the singing,
The lovelier grows Yunghsing Island.


Translated by Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang. Source: Chinese Literature Monthly, January 1, 1961.