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A picture of the author Li Bai Also known as Li Po, Li Bo, Li Pai, the great Chinese poet Li Bai (Chinese: 李白) was a wandering poet during the mid Tang Dynasty. His poems famously celebrate the various pleasures of life.
Waking From Drunkenness on a Spring Day is one of Li Bai's most famous poems. This is the Arthur Waley translation:
Waking From Drunkenness on a Spring Day (春日醉起言志)
處世若大夢, Life in the world is but a big dream; 胡爲勞其生. I will not spoil it by any labour or care. 所以終日醉, so saying, I was drunk all the day, 頹然臥前楹. lying helpless at the porch in front of my door. 覺來盼庭前, when I awoke, I blinked at the garden-lawn; 一鳥花間鳴. a lonely bird was singing amid the flowers. 借問此何時, I asked myself, had the day been wet or fine? 春風語流鶯. the Spring wind was telling the mango-bird. 感之欲嘆息, moved by its song I soon began to sigh, 對酒還自傾. and, as wine was there, I filled my own cup. 浩歌待明月, wildly singing I waited for the moon to rise; 曲盡已忘情. when my song was over, all my senses had gone.
