One of my favorite poets, one of my favorite translators.

So serene and beautiful. I'm really not into my Asian roots but this is some great poetry. It is a little monotone- nature, wine, Taoist stuff. The lack of rhyme and the even meter make it seem so sagey. Glad to have read this book!!!

I think I need to read another translation. This one, by David Hinton, occasionally works (e.g., 'War South of the Great Wall') but more often sounds banal and empty. Am I reading New-Age hippy bullsh*t or one of the greatest Chinese poets that ever wrote? - was the question that irked me throughout. Still, I'm interested enough to reread Li Po, so this edition must have done something right.

This book is just him drinking alone, going on hikes, meeting friends, drinking with friends, talking abt how beautiful the moon is, drinking under the moon, autumn, drinking some more, and I respect that. Some choice titles include 'Drinking Under The Moon', 'Drinking Alone', 'Drinking on Dragon Mountain', 'Drinking Alone' on a Spring Day', 'Drinking in the Mountains With A Recluse', 'Waking Drunk on Spring Day'.

Also, from the introduction:
“It may be just as well, for the legend Li Po made of himself is more consistent and compelling if he remains, like the moon, an enduring mystery. Whatever actually happened at Li Yang-ping’s house in the winter of 762, Li Po died as the legend says he died: out drunk in a boat, he fell into a river and drowned trying to embrace the moon.”

best of the T'ang.

I simply love Li Po. What more can I say?

My favorite poet of all time. One of the very few bits of literature that actually makes me simmer down for a while.

Ughhh, I wanna finish this book so bad-

I keep wasting the time tho.

It seems like a lot of these poems were written while/about drinking. Maybe I should give it a try.

It's Li Po. What else is there to say?

I used to read Li Po and Tu Fu often about ten years ago, so it's kind of a joy to return to these poems. It's like reuniting with an old friend. A friend who likes to drink wine and talk about mountains and streams, and the Way.

There's nothing I could say that would add to Li Po's reputation, but I just really love these poems. They never go out of season.

Oh, if only I could read it in the original Chinese.

Wanderlust and alcohol