Green Mountain

Li Bai

Chang-an -- one slip of moon;

in ten thousand houses, the sound of fulling mallets.

Autumn winds keep on blowing,

all things make me think of Jade Pass!

When will they put down the barbarians

and my good man come home from his far campaign? 

  Amidst the flowers a jug of wine, 

I pour alone lacking companionship. 

So raising the cup I invite the Moon, 

Then turn to my shadow which makes three of us. 

Because the Moon does not know how to drink, 

My shadow merely follows the movement of my body. 

The moon has brought the shadow to keep me company a while, 

The practice of mirth should keep pace with spring. 

I start a song and the moon begins to reel, 

I rise and dance and the shadow moves grotesquely. 

While I'm still conscious let's rejoice with one another, 

After I'm drunk let each one go his way. 

Let us bind ourselves for ever for passionless journeyings. 

Let us swear to meet again far in the Milky Way. 

  Pure wine costs, for the golden cup, 

ten thousand coppers a flagon,

And a jade plate of dainty food calls for million coins.

I fling aside my chop-sticks and cup, I cannot eat nor drink...

I pull out my dagger, I peer four ways in vain.

I would cross the Yellow River, but ice chokes the ferry;

I would climb the Tai-hang Mountains, 

but the sky is blind with snow..

I would sit and poise a fishing-pole, lazy by a brook --

But I suddenly dream of riding a boat, sailing for the sun...

Journeying is hard,

Journeying is hard.

There are many turings --

Which am I to follow?...

I will mount a long wind some day and break the heavy waves

And set my cloudy sail straight and bridge the deep, deep sea.