‘Lit Bits’ are snippets from novels, short poetry picks, pretty much any specks of literature that catch my fancy. Today I’d like to share a poem I really enjoy. “Drinking Alone in the Moonlight” was written over 1200 years ago by Li Po (701-762), a great poet from China’s T’ang Dynasty.
Drinking Alone in the Moonlight
by Li Po
Beneath the blossoms with a pot of wine,
No friends at hand, so I poured alone;
I raised my cup to invite the moon,
Turned to my shadow, and we became three.
Now the moon had never learned about drinking,
And my shadow had merely followed my form,
But I quickly made friends with the moon and my shadow;
To find pleasure in life, make the most of the spring.
Whenever I sang, the moon swayed with me;
Whenever I danced, my shadow went wild.
Drinking, we shared our enjoyment together;
Drunk, then each went off on his own.
But forever agreed on dispassionate revels,
We promised to meet in the far Milky Way.
I thought it was beautiful. Nature, moonlight, wine, his shadow, and a happy heart show a man enjoying life to the fullest. Reading it gave me a peaceful feeling and made me smile, and I’ve remembered these lines many times while enjoying a glass of wine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I recently read ‘The Naked Room” by Diana Hockley and would like to recommend it.The mystery, suspense, and engrossing characters kept me up late reading this novel, and the plot is full of things I never saw coming.
Check it out!
