Moon Light Light

Every time I see a full moon, I recall a Cantonese poem my grandmother and mom would recite that eventually became a lullaby. What got it lodge deeper into my memory was the funny attempt to find out what the whole thing meant by translating it into English. So here is the childhood poem, with a (almost) literal translation (with help by Google Translate), on this night with a lovely full moon.

月光光，
Moon Light Light

照地堂，
Shine Ground Hall

年卅晚，
Year 30th Evening

摘檳榔，
Pick Betel Nut

檳榔香，
Betel Nut Fragrant

摘紫薑，
Pick Purple Ginger

紫薑辣，
Purple Ginger Spicy

買胡辣，
Pick Fu Spice

胡辣苦，
Fu Spice Bitter

買豬肚，
Buy Pig's Stomach

豬肚肥，
Pig's Stomach Fat

買牛皮，
Buy Cow Skin

牛皮薄，
Cow Skin Thin

買菱角，
Buy Water Caltrop

菱角尖，
Water Caltrop Sharp

買馬鞭,
Buy Horse Whip

馬鞭長,
Horse Whip Long

起屋樑,
Raise House Beams

屋樑高,
House Beams High

買張刀,
Buy A Knife

刀切菜，
Knife Cut Vegetables

買籮蓋,
Buy Basket Cover

籮蓋圓，
Basket Cover Round

買條船,
Buy A Boat

船浸底，
The Boat Capsized

浸親三個番鬼仔,
Drowned 3 Sailors

一個蒲頭，
One Floated Up

一個浸底,
One Sank Down

一個裡面屎坑底，
One Was In The Toilet

收钱来買油炒粿
Saving Money To Buy Oil Fried Cake