Just wanted to try my hand translating this famous Tang Dynasty poem by Li Bai. In case you didn't know who Li Bai was, here's a brief introduction:

Li Bai, also known as Li Po, was arguably the greatest poet of China’s Tang dynasty, and possibly of all its history. His verse is notable for the strong voice and personality it reflects, uncommon in the 8th century. An accomplished martial artist and academic genius, Li Bai was also a great lover of wine, becoming a member of the “Six Idlers of the Bamboo Brook,” an informal group dedicated to literature and drinking. It was the custom of the time to indulge socially, so the following poem—one of his most famous pieces—explores the unusual problem of drinking alone, for which Li Bai finds an uncommon solution...

Here's the poem in it's original form...

"月下獨酌"

花間一壺酒，
獨酌無相親；
舉杯邀明月，
對影成三人。
月既不解飲，
影徒隨我身；
暫伴月將影，
行樂須及春。
我歌月徘徊，
我舞影零亂；
醒時同交歡，
醉後各分散。
永結無情遊，
相期邈雲漢。

Here's one of many English translations...

"Drinking Alone Under The Moon"

Amongst the flowers I
am alone with my pot of wine
drinking by myself; then lifting
my cup I asked the moon
to drink with me, its reflection
and mine in the wine cup, just
the three of us; then I sigh
for the moon cannot drink,
and my shadow goes emptily along
with me never saying a word;
with no other friends here, I can
but use these two for company;
in the time of happiness, I
too must be happy with all
around me; I sit and sing
and it is as if the moon
accompanies me; then if I
dance, it is my shadow that
dances along with me; while
still not drunk, I am glad
to make the moon and my shadow
into friends, but then when
I have drunk too much, we
all part; yet these are
friends I can always count on
these who have no emotion
whatsoever; I hope that one day
we three will meet again,
deep in the Milky Way.

-- Rewi Alley

Now for my rendition....

"Drinking Alone Under The Moon"

I take a bottle of wine
In the bowers where no companion’s mine.
Raising a cup to the moon;
that’s two of us,
and my shadow joins soon.
We companions are always three:
my shadow,
the moon,
and simply me.
I sing, the moon encourages me.
l dance, my shadow follows me.
This lonesomeness I’ve always known,
in the bowers where this life turns cold.
When tonight our wine is done,
we part ways one by one.
Sojourning without a care,
my shadow,
the moon
and me.

I tried to maintain a semblance of the old Tang form. I have to admit that i'm quiet chuffed with my rendition. Yeah yeah...it's my personal bias 🤣!

What do you think?

Any criqitues?

Thanks for stopping by!