The Solitude of Night

The Solitude of Night

By Li Po 701–762 Li Po

Translated By Shigeyoshi Obata

It was at a wine party—
I lay in a drowse, knowing it not.
The blown flowers fell and filled my lap.
When I arose, still drunken,
The birds had all gone to their nests,
And there remained but few of my comrades.
I went along the river—alone in the moonlight.




Source: The Works of Li Po The Chinese Poet (EP Dutton & Company, 1921)

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Poet Li Po 701–762

POET’S REGION China

Subjects Relationships, Friends & Enemies, Activities, Eating & Drinking, Nature

Poetic Terms Free Verse

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Biography

A Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty, Li Po (also known as Li Bai, Li Pai, Li T’ai-po, and Li T’ai-pai) was probably born in central Asia and grew up in Sichuan Province. He left home in 725 to wander through the Yangtze River Valley and write poetry. In 742 he was appointed to the Hanlin Academy by Emperor Xuanzong, though he was eventually expelled from court. He then served the Prince of Yun, who led a revolt after the An . . .

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SUBJECT Relationships, Friends & Enemies, Activities, Eating & Drinking, Nature

POET’S REGION China

Poetic Terms Free Verse

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Originally appeared in Poetry magazine.

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