by Kewoni Berkley

Created on: June 20, 2008   Last Updated: June 27, 2008

The poem Drinking Alone in the Moonlight was written by a Chinese poet Li Po/Bai during the Tang Dynasty.

The poet wrote the poem in a state of depression. He is sad because two of his friends have died and to cheer up himself he has gone in the meadow to drink wine which he believes can wash away all his sorrows. However while he is alone in his state of depression he finds two friends who somehow can replace his friends who have died. These substitutes are the moon and his shadow.

Apparently, the poet at one time used to be with his friends and have a good time drinking and eating. In memory of his lost friends, he beckons the moon to drink with him however the moon as well as his shadow cannot drink as neither of them can perform any human actions. So he sighs and recognizes the happiness and joy of the spring season which is contrary to his current state and so he decides that he too must be happy with everything around him so he begins to sing in joy and to him the moon replaces his friend who has died but used to accompany him while he sang. Also he decides to dance. His shadow does exactly as he does, it follows his every move and so his shadow who is representative of his other friend dances along with him in perfect harmony. This all happens while he is still sober however, when he drinks too much and gets drunk he cannot remember anything so to him, they part and go in separate directions. He enjoys the company of the moon and his shadow as if they were human and so he remembers his gone friends and wishes that someday they can meet again in heaven.

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