Drinking Under the Moon

by Li Po

A jug of wine         among flowers 
in the moonlight      nobody close
so I raised my cup to the bright moon
bade it drink with me
just the three of us
bright moon     my shadow     and me
shadows only imitate
the moon cannot comprehend
in spite of that we were happy
you must enjoy life in Spring
I sang   the moon listens
I danced   my shadow capered about
we were all      once strangers
now    we are such good friends
we drink    we laugh
we laugh    we drink
though we’ll part
we'll all meet once more
I raise my cup to the bright moon
to journey beyond time


T’ang Dynasty
translated by David Sen, Dick Russell
© Dick Russell, 2013, 2023