Today is the Double Ninth Festival. It is the thirtieth Double Ninth Festival I have lived. I felt the autumn cool and smelled the autumn flavor. I sent a cell phone message “How about some wine tonight?” to my friend who is in another distant city. He answered that “Ok, ok, ok”. I recite the poetries, imaging we are toasting each other.
九月九日忆山东兄弟
Recalling my hometown brothers in the Double Ninth Festival
(唐) 王维
by Wei Wang in Tang Dynasty
独在异乡为异客，
Being a lonely stranger far way from hometown,
每逢佳节倍思亲。
I miss my family even more in the festival.
遥知兄弟登高处，
I know my brothers are climbing a mountain today,
遍插茱萸少一人。
They all have cornels on the heads, but I am not there.
采桑子·重阳
Song of Picking Mulberry·Double Ninth
毛泽东
by Chairman Mao
人生易老天难老，
The heaven never goes old while man easily,
岁岁重阳。
The Double Ninth Festival belongs to every year,
今又重阳，
Today is its another advent,
战地黄花分外香。
The chrysanthemum in the battleground is all the more aromatic.
一年一度秋风劲，
The yearly autumn gale is so forceful,
不似春光。
Making it distinguished from spring,
胜似春光，
But rather exceeds spring,
廖廓江天万里霜。
While overlooking the vast frost-like river.
