Drinking alone with the moon

DRINKING ALONE WITH THE MOON

By Li Bai (701-762)

From a pot of wine among the flowers I drank alone.
There was no one with me –

Till, raising my cup, I asked the bright moon
to bring me my shadow and make us three.

Alas, the moon was unable to drink
and my shadow tagged me vacantly;

But still for a while I had these friends
to cheer me through the end of spring….

I sang. The moon encouraged me.
I danced. My shadow tumbled after.

As long as I knew, we were boon companions.
And then I was drunk, and we lost one another.

…Shall goodwill ever be secure?
I watch the long road of the River of Stars.