#月下獨酌
“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.