does anyone know the chinese poet li po? well i have read one of his poems "a night with a friend" translated

Question

in english. well i do not quite understand it. does anyone know what qualities i can find in this poem that are typical of his poetry? i would really love to know because many people have different opinions on this poem. thank you so much

Answer 1

the most widely anthologized poem "Drinking Alone Under The Moon,: is about Li Po drinking with the moon and his shadow...
Li Po considers the moon to be a companion, one that is unable to drink, so Li Po helps him out as the moon's light graciously provides him with a shadow companion. Ironically, Li Po is said to have drowned in a drunken attempt to embrace the moon's reflection in a pond.

Stephen Morse

Answer 2

It would depend on who translated it. Ezra Pound was fond of Li Po and assisted in the translation of many of his poems. Most likely it is about Li Po and Tu Fu (Po's long time friend). They were the the greatest poets of the T'ang dynasty (618-907). They were direct opposites. Li Po led a life of that inspires legends of wanderings and drinking bouts. Tu Fu was disciplined and highly responsible, and was committed to China's political struggles.

Answer 3

I believe that it is very important on Yahoo Answers to be precise in the questions we ask and the answers we offer.

You ask, "Does anyone know . . . ?"

There can be only two possible answers to that question:

Either someone knows;
or
No one knows.

In the present case, certainly there must be someone out there who knows.

So my answer is a resounding
YES!!

But is that what you really were asking about?

.

Answer 4

If you would put it in your question I would love to read it, but I don't have a copy of the book myself.