Drinking Alone under the Moon: No. 1
A pot of wine among the flowers;
I drink alone, with no close companion.
I raise my cup to invite the bright moon;
Facing my shadow, we become three.
The moon does not understand drinking;
My shadow merely follows me.
For now I keep moon and shadow company;
Let us enjoy ourselves while spring lasts.
I sing, and the moon seems to wander;
I dance, and my shadow scatters.
Sober, we share our pleasure;
Drunk, we each go our separate ways.
May we forever share this bond beyond human feeling,
And meet again far away in the Milky Way.
Notes
Duozhuo means drinking alone. The moon and shadow become imagined companions, though neither drinks. “Companionship without feeling” can mean a bond with non-human companions or one beyond ordinary worldly ties. Yunhan is the Milky Way.
Meaning
Drinking alone, the poet imagines the moon and his shadow as companions, finding both loneliness and playful fellowship.
Appreciation
Solitude becomes an imagined gathering of three when the moon and shadow are invited.
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Neither companion can actually share a drink, so the playfulness remains close to loneliness.
Song and dance animate the moon and shadow.
The distant Milky Way extends the imagined bond; the final phrase permits more than one reading.
About the poet
Li Bai (c. 701–762), courtesy name Taibai, was a Tang poet whose travels inspired many poems about landscapes, friendship and journeys.
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Life: Li Bai grew up in the Shu region and traveled widely. He was summoned to serve at the Tang court before continuing his journeys.
Works: His poems include Thoughts on a Quiet Night, Viewing the Waterfall at Mount Lu and To Wang Lun.