Sunday, September 28, 2008

《月下独酌》 - 李白

花间一壶酒, 独酌无相亲。
举杯邀明月, 对影成三人。
月既不解饮, 影徒随我身。
暂伴月将影, 行乐须及春。
我歌月徘徊, 我舞影零乱。
醒时同交欢, 醉后各分散。
永结无情游, 相期邈云汉。

1 comment:

sam08 said...

Literal meanings:
I prepare a bottle of wine in the middle of garden,
I drink alone, there is no friend or family around me.
I bring up my wine cup (ya, chinese use cups, not glasses) n invite the bright moon,
Along with my shadow, there are three of us.
The moon can never understand the joy of drinking,
My shadow will only follow me silently too.
I can only with the moon's n shadow's companion,
Enjoy myself while the condition / environment / atmosphere is very good.
The moon move along with my singing / poem reading,
The shadow dance along with my dancing.
We have fun together when i am awake / conscious,
I can't find you all when i am drunk.
Let's become a friend that last forever and not bound by the rules,
Let's to meet again in the heaven / some place far far away.

From the literal meaning of the poem, it seems that the person is having fun himself, but the sorrow / lonliness is hidden among the lines...

I am sorry to have so many possibility on the translation, but chinese words, especially ancient could mean many things. Moreover, my chinese not so good. Please don't curse me...