Alone And Drinking Under The Moon

by Li Bai

　　Amongst the flowers I

　　am alone with my pot of wine

　　drinking by myself; then lifting

　　my cup I asked the moon

　　to drink with me, its reflection

　　and mine in the wine cup, just

　　the three of us; then I sigh

　　for the moon cannot drink,

　　and my shadow goes emptily along

　　with me never saying a word;

　　with no other friends here, I can

　　but use these two for company;

　　in the time of happiness, I

　　too must be happy with all

　　around me; I sit and sing

　　and it is as if the moon

　　accompanies me; then if I

　　dance, it is my shadow that

　　dances along with me; while

　　still not drunk, I am glad

　　to make the moon and my shadow

　　into friends, but then when

　　I have drunk too much, we

　　all part; yet these are

　　friends I can always count on

　　these who have no emotion

　　whatsoever; I hope that one day

　　we three will meet again,

　　deep in the Milky Way.

　　Li Po