Drinking Alone by Moonlight (Part I) - Li Bai
/月下独酌(其一) - 李白/
A Solitary Toast Beneath the Moon
花间一壶酒，
Amidst the flowers with a single jug of wine,
独酌无相亲。
I drink alone, with no companion by my side.
举杯邀明月，
I raise my cup and invite the bright moon,
对影成三人。
Along with my shadow, we become three.
月既不解饮，
The moon does not understand the joy of drinking,
影徒随我身。
And my shadow merely follows my form.
暂伴月将影，
But for now, I take the moon and my shadow as companions,
行乐须及春。
For the pleasure of the spring night.
我歌月徘徊，
I sing, and the moon wanders hither and thither;
我舞影零乱。
I dance, and my shadow scatters in disarray.
醒时同交欢，
While sober, we share our joys together;
醉后各分散。
Once drunk, we each go our separate ways.
永结无情游，
May we be forever joined in our carefree journey,
相期邈云汉。
And meet again in the vastness of the Milky Way.
This poem, composed by the revered Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai, offers an exquisite reflection on solitude, companionship, and the transcendent joy of nature. The speaker finds himself alone in a moonlit setting with just a jug of wine, yet the presence of the bright moon and his own shadow provides an imagined kinship. While the moon cannot literally partake in the wine, and the shadow can only mimic his movements, these silent companions invite a space of creativity and reverie. Through singing and dancing under the moonlight, Li Bai creates a bond not bound by words or understanding, but by shared experience in a moment of fleeting spring beauty.
The poem uses vivid imagery—flowers, moonlight, shadow—to paint a scene of both isolation and unity. Although physical companionship is absent, Li Bai finds solace in the cosmic companionship of the moon and his ephemeral shadow. His final wish, to reunite in the vast Milky Way, points to the idea that true connection is unbounded by time and physical limitations. This reinforces an overarching message: in solitary moments, if one embraces imagination and nature’s majesty, a form of deeper connection can be found.
Ultimately, “Drinking Alone by Moonlight (Part I)” is a celebration of poetic insight, urging us to look beyond immediate reality toward a timeless and infinite sense of companionship within solitude.
Key points
1. Solitude can become meaningful when guided by imagination and a connection to nature.
2. True companionship transcends literal understanding and resides in shared moments of joy.
3. Poetry and creativity help us discover beauty in the quiet spaces of life.
4. Even in loneliness, we can forge bonds that defy physical boundaries.