Bamboo Retreat

Alone, I sit serene within a bamboo grove,
At ease, I strum the lute and hum a song.
Unknown into the forest deep I’ll rove
Until the shining moon has sung along.

Chinese

竹里館

獨坐幽篁裡，
彈琴復長嘯。
深林人不知，
明月來相照。

Pronunciation

Zhú Lǐ Guǎn

Dú zuò yōu huáng lǐ，
Dàn qín fù cháng xiào。
Shēn lín rén bù zhī，
Míng yuè lái xiāng zhào。

Literal Character Translation

Bamboo Village Building

Alone sitting serene bamboo within,
Play lute repeatedly long whistle.
Deep forest man not known,
Bright moon come together shine.