* * *

By Li Po

 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 journeying.

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

* * *

  A bright moon rising above Tian Shan Mountain,

Lost in a vast ocean of clouds.

The long wind, across thousands upon thousands of miles,

Blows past the Jade-gate Pass.

The army of Han has gone down the Baiteng Road,

As the barbarian hordes probe at Qinghai Bay.

It is known that from the battlefield

Few ever live to return.

Men at Garrison look on the border scene,

Home thoughts deepen sorrow on their faces.

In the towered chambers tonight,

Ceaseless are the women's sighs.

* * *

  To drown the ancient sorrows,

we drank a hundred jugs of wine

there in the beautiful night.

We couldn't go to bed with the moon so bright.

The finally the wine overcame us

and we lay down on the empty mountain--

the earth for a pillow,

and a blanket made of heaven.