by Sarah Huth

Created on: June 30, 2008

It is clear that Li Po (also known as Li Bai) was different from many other poets of his era. He lived in China during the sixth century, born in 701 A.D., and was part of a group of scholars known as "The Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup", a title given by the poet Du Fu. This could not have applied to Li Po more. An avid drinker, Li Po was said to have loved his liquor almost as much as he loved his poetry. This love of drinking, paired with a carefree lifestyle, directly opposed the prevailing ideas of how a proper Confucian gentleman should act. Despite this, Li Po is regarded as one of the greatest poets in China's history, with around 1,100 poems to his name. Legend has it that one night, in 762 A.D., he drown in the Yangtze River as he drunkenly tried to embrace the reflection of the moon in his arms.

Whether this story is fact or merely the stuff of legends, it ties in directly to one of Li Po's most famous poems; "Drinking Alone in the Moonlight." Known for his striking imagery and a broad imagination, Li Po captures a magical night of drinking and laughing with the moon as his only companion. While the poem may seem sad upon further analysis, for Li Po is alone without a true friend to drink with, the situation is portrayed in a very light, spontaneous way. Like many of his poems, "Drinking Alone in the Moonlight" has undergone many translations, the most famous being Arthur Waley's, which we will look at line by line for the sake of this analysis.

Li Po begins by setting up the evening, describing his location for the reader:

"A cup of wine, under the flowering trees;
I drink alone, for no friend is near."

He describes the flowers on the trees so that they can be envisioned in the mind of the reader, and one can almost picture him lying on his back, gazing up at the beautiful flowers that bloom from the branches above him. His solitude is made clear from the start, but he seems at peace with being alone with nature. This greatly reflects the Taoist beliefs that he infused much of his poetry with; the connection with nature and everything around us. He continues on, stating:

"Raising my cup I beckon the bright moon,
For he, with my shadow, will make three men."

In these lines we get an even better sense of Li Po's acceptance of solitude. He is making the most out of his situation, and while some may see his idea of "making three men" with the moon and his shadow as a sign of sorrow or loneliness, it seems to be more of a joke than anything else. He seems cheerful,

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