Mondsongs

“Drinking Alone Under the Moon” is one of the most famous poems by one of China's most famous poets, Li Bai (b.701 – d.762). He writes about finding two companions—his shadow and the moon—to join him for a drink. And yet, he is still alone. Drunk, he sings and he dances. However, as many drunken escapades do, this one turns melancholic...

"I sing and the moon just wavers in the sky;
I dance and my shadow whips around like mad.
While sober still, we have such fun together!
But stumbling drunk, we each stagger off alone.
Bound forever, relentless we roam:
reunited at last on the distant river of stars."

Legend has it that Li Bai died from drowning because, happily drunk, he tried to embrace the moon’s reflection in the water while sitting in a boat. To this day, during the Mid-Autumn Festival when families have dinner, eat moon cakes, drink wine, and watch the moon, people think of this poem and celebrate Li Bai's life.