tamsoj:

Li Po, from A Book of Luminous Things: An International Anthology of Poetry, “The Birds Have Vanished,” tr. from the Chinese by Sam Hamill

niteshade925:

“Drinking Alone Under the Moon” (月下獨酌) Translation

Drinking Alone Under the Moon (first poem of four)

Li Bai (Tang dynasty poet)

A flask of liquor sat amongst flowers, and I drink alone without friends or family.

I lift my cup to invite the moon, and with my shadow we make three.

But the moon doesn’t drink, and the shadow only follows me.

Nevertheless, I must make the most of this brief companionship.

I sing and the moon sways around, I dance and my shadow flutters about.

While I’m still awake we make merry, only after I fall asleep do we part.

Tonight we form this passionless bond, may we meet again among the distant stars.

月下獨酌 (一)

[唐] 李白

花間一壺酒，獨酌無相親。

舉杯邀明月，對影成三人。

月既不解飲，影徒隨我身。

暫伴月將影，行樂須及春。

我歌月徘徊，我舞影凌亂。

醒時同交歡，醉後各分散。

永結無情游，相期邈雲漢。

Moving to side blog.

It’s funny how people say “loneliness is a modern creation”. And yet, this perfect poem about loneliness, this perfect proof that loneliness transcends time…was written over a thousand years ago.