CHINESE POETRY AND ITS CONNOTATIONS 



117 



Li T'ai-po. 



The words in parenthesis are those of the scholar who is 

 explaining the poem. 



Under the Moon, Sipping Wine Alone. 



Among flowers — a jug of wine. 



Alone, sipping wine with no intimate companion. 



I lift my cup and invite the bright moon to be my guest. 



My shadow is opposite to me, thus making us three. 



The moon is already unable to drink 

 (Being inanimate how can it?) 



My shadow follows my body in vain 



(It is of no practical use as a companion, as it also cannot drink 

 wine). 



For a very short time, the moon and my shadow are my companions, 

 (Li T'ai-po is thinking of the speed with which time passes). 



Be joyful ! ! ! It is necessary in the spring. 



(This 8th line connects as it were, with the first. In that the poet 

 spoke of flowers, and brought spring to mind. This line makes 

 , the picture more vivid. Li T'ai-po thinks that man should enjoy 

 his spring time — his youth, to the very utmost — that it is his duty 

 to make the most of every gift of beauty that has been given him, 

 in order that he may not reach a "futile" old age having missed 

 many opportunities). 



I sing the moon moves gradually on its way. 



(The 'sing' connects this line with the last, it springs, as it were, 

 from the 'joyful' ; the image of the moving moon gives life to the 

 poem, and that is the most important feature a poem should have, 

 the poet's idea is that the moon seems to be moving rythmically in 

 time to his song). 



I dance, my shadow takes strange shapes on the ground. 



(The 'dance' follows of course on the 'sing' and 'be joyful,' the 

 posturing dance of the Chinese is an expression of joy, and as 

 Li T'ai-po gracefully moves, his shadow seems no longer that of a 

 person but is confused on the ground). 



