月下独酌
花间一壶酒，独酌无相亲。
举杯邀明月，对影成三人。
月既不解饮，影徒随我身。
暂伴月将影，行乐须及春。
我歌月徘徊，我舞影零乱。
醒时同交欢，醉后各分散。
永结无情游，相期邈云汉。
Drinking Alone Under the Moon
Alone among the flowers drinking wine
I raise my cup and invite the bright moon
come drink with me;
my shadow would make three.
But the moon's no drinker, and my shadow,
it just follows me like a shadow does.
Though we are only together like this
for a while, it should be enjoyed, like youth.
The moonlight moves along in time with me;
we dance
and it gets a little crazy.
Sober we're happy; drunk I have lost you.
If only our friendships were as constant
as the River of Stars is unchanging.
- Li Bai (701 – 762)