55: For a Jinling Tavern Farewell, Li Bai

55: For a Jinling Tavern Farewell

The wind blows the shop full of willow blossoms as

Mme. Wu shouts and pushes her wine on all to taste.

Sons and brothers of Jinling have come to see each other off;

Wishing to go, or not to go, each drains his cup.

I ask of you, please, which is greater: the loss of separation or

the water that flows down from the east?

5: Sharing Wine and the Night with a Recluse Beneath Zhongnan Mountain, by Li Bai

Apologies for a late post! In my defense, I've been in London the last four days, wandering about with friends and enjoying some pints -- a past-time which Li Bai, whose poems I turn to this week, would have respected. So, without further ado:

005李白:下终南山过斛斯山人宿置酒

暮從碧山下, 山月隨人歸,
卻顧所來徑, 蒼蒼橫翠微.
相攜及田家, 童稚開荊扉.
綠竹入幽徑, 青蘿拂行衣.
歡言得所憩, 美酒聊共揮.
長歌吟松風, 曲盡河星稀.
我醉君復樂, 陶然共忘機.

Twilight from a green mountain falls; the
mountain moon follows their return,

but lonely they walk upon the path, a
gray, gray slash on a blue-green ridge.

Watch her led to the house in the fields: a
child opens the chaste-wood gate.

Green bamboo lines the quiet way;
green vines brush the gown.

With happy words achieve at last this rest,
beauty and wine all shared and scattered.

The pine-tree wind sings long songs,
melodies exhausted by sparse river stars.

I am drunk, and you are once more happy,
joyful, all the seeds of care forgotten.

---

mù cóng bìshān xià, shān yuē suí rén guī,
Twilight from green mountain down, mountain moon follow person return
què gǔ suǒ lái jìng, cāngcāng héng cuìwēi.
however lonley which comes path, gray gray across blue green hillside
xiàng xié jí tiān jiā, tóng zhì kāi jīng fēi.
watch taken by the hand to the farmer's house; a child opens the chaste-tree gate
lǜ zhú rù yōu jìng, qīng luò fú xíng yī
Green bamboo enters the secluded path, Green radishes are brushed aside by the gown.
huān yán dé suǒ qì, měi jiǔ liáo gǒng huī.
Happy words receive this rest, beauty wine for a time share and scatter
cháng gē yín sōng fēng, qǔ jìn hē xīng xī.
Long songs hum pine wind, melodies all river star sparse
wǒ zuì jūn fù lè, táo rán gǒng wàng jī
I drunk you again happy, happy and carefree all forgotten (root cause, seed)

6 - Li Bai, Drinking Alone Under the Moon

Terribly sorry for the delay! Here then, we have one of the most famous poems in the whole Chinese canon, or at least the first verse. Like many poems in the 300 Poems of the Tang (including Zhang Jiuling's Poems of Encountering) it was anthologized only in part, and I imagine there are many who never come across the other verses. This verse, however, stands alone quite well -- enjoy!

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。

under moon alone drink

flower middle one pot wine, alone drink no mutual dear-friend

raise glass invite bright moon, face shadow become three people

moon since not understanding to-drink, shadow follows follows my body

temporary companion moon and shadow, make merry must up-to spring

I sing moon wavers/moves-back-and-forth, I dance shadow disordered chaotic

sober time with share joy, drunk after each separate scatter

forever bound-together not-limited sentiment wander, together meet far-away Milky Way

_____

Drinking Alone Under the Moon

Among the flowers my jug of wine,

I drink alone without companion

I raise my glass to the bright moon,

facing my shadow we are three

Moon knows not of drink, and

Shadow merely follows my body.

These temporary fellows, Moon and Shadow,

this happiness is made to end like the spring

I sing and Moon wanders

I dance and Shadow shakes

Still sober we are merry together,

though after we have drunk we will separate

Would that I were with you forever, no pain of parting,

together among the faraway stars