Chinese Poetry:Ziyi Song
Spent part of last night reading some Chinese poetry, I guess it’s my way of getting ready for my trip. A friend recommended the works of Li Bai, here’s one of his pieces, his beautiful Ziyi Song.
Ziyi Song
Amidst the flowers a jug of wine,
I pour alone lacking companionship.
So raising the cup I invite the Moon,
Then turn to my shadow which makes three of us.
Because the Moon does not know how to drink,
My shadow merely follows the movement of my body.
The moon has brought the shadow to keep me company a while,
The practice of mirth should keep pace with spring.
I start a song and the moon begins to reel,
I rise and dance and the shadow moves grotesquely.
While I'm still conscious let's rejoice with one another,
After I'm drunk let each one go his way.
Let us bind ourselves for ever for passionless journeyings.
Let us swear to meet again far in the Milky Way.
-- by Li Bai
That is so beautiful. And on today my birthday so very poignant.
Comment by David — April 19, 2008 @ 12:54 pm
Don’t know how you manage to always find, select and post the most beautiful and thought provoking of words.
& all that jazz….
Bon voyage… au revoir, adios amigo
A hafiz. Moona
Comment by Moona — April 19, 2008 @ 2:49 pm