戴察《月夜梧桐叶上见寒露》“Seeing cold dew on wutong leaves on a moonlit night” by Dai Cha [fl. late eighth century]

萧疏桐叶上， On sullen, sparse leaves of the wutong tree,

月白露初团。 Beads of dew are taking shape [beneath] the pale moon  –

滴沥清光满， Dribbling and trickling, filled with clear light;

荧煌素彩寒。 Gleaming and glowing, crisp with pure lustre.

风摇愁玉坠， When stirred by the wind – [I] worry  –  [these] jades might fall;

枝动惜珠乾。 When the branches shake – [I] sigh – [these] pearls might dry.

气冷疑秋晚， As the air grows chill, [I]] suppose autumn is deepening;

声微觉夜阑。 As sounds fall silent, [I] realise it’s late into the night.

凝空流欲遍， Gathering from nowhere, [they] slide almost everywhere.

润物净宜看。 Moistening things, [their] purity delights the eye.

莫厌窥临倦， Do not weary of leaning close to watch –

将晞聚更难。 A drop will find it hard to form as the day begins to dawn. 

* From Peng Dingqiu 彭定求 (1645-1719) ed., Quan Tang shi 全唐詩 (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1960), vol. 22, 779.8813.

Seeing cold dew on bamboo leaves on a moonlit night in my garden...