The Jade Mountain/Drinking Alone with the Moon
β
DRINKING ALONE WITH THE MOON
From a pot of wine among the flowersI drank alone. There was no one with meβTill, raising my cup, I asked the bright moonTo bring me my shadow and make us three.Alas, the moon was unable to drink βAnd my shadow tagged me vacantly;But still for a while I had these friendsTo 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.