Poetrie: Drinking Alone With the Moon

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Translated from the Chinese

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 know we were boon companions.

And then I was drunk, and we lost one another.

...shall good will ever be secure?

I watch the long River of Stars.