Translating a calligraphy scroll into English

[Lewis249]

Hello all,

I've just come into possession of this calligraphy scroll and would like to know what it means! Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Lewis

 

[Mike Cash]

Pretty sure that's Chinese....

 

[Toritoribe]

Yes, it's a Chinese poem 楓橋夜泊 A Night-Mooring near Maple Bridge composed by 張継 Zhang Ji, which is famous also in Japan.

月落烏啼霜満天
江楓漁火對愁眠
姑蘇城外寒山寺
夜半鐘聲到客船
The moon is going down
And the crows make a ruckus
The sky is covered with frost
There are maples on the riverbank
And the lights of fishing boats
Drift with the current
I fall into a sad sleep
from the monastery on Cold Mountain
The sound of the bell
Reaches the guest boat at midnight
Hanshan Temple - Wikipedia