| Multiple poems at a time |
The moon understands not the art of drinking;
The shadow gingerly follows my movements;
Still I make the moon and the shadow my company;
To enjoy the springtime before too late.
The moon lingers while I am singing;
The shadow scatters while I am dancing;
We share the cheers of delight when sober;
We separate our ways after getting drunk;
Forever will we keep this unfettered friendship;
Til we meet again far in the Milky Way.
2) DRINKING ALONE WITH THE MOON
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.
3) Boire seul sous la lune
Parmi les fleurs une coupe de vin,
Seul je bois, pas un ami.
Levant ma tasse, j’invite la lune claire,
En comptant mon ombre, nous voilà trois.
La lune ne s’entend pas à boire,
Mon ombre suit mes mouvements.
Pour un instant la lune me prête mon ombre,
Notre joie passagère est pareille au printemps.
Je chante, la lune vacille;
Je danse, mon ombre gesticule.
Le bon sens fait le bon convive;
Si la tête tourne, il est temps de se quitter.
Réunion qui trop dure est sans
Rendez-vous pris sur l’autre rive du Fleuve céleste.