Analysis of the Poem Drinking Alone Beneath the Moon by Li Po - Book Report/Review Example

Poem review A poem from Cloud gate song-Chinese literature Poem review/analysis of the poem, “Drinking Alone beneath the Moon” by Li Po Summary "Drinking Alone beneath the Moon" can be viewed as one of the most outstanding poems by a great Chinese poet. The poem instigates by setting a scene of some flowers, where the speaker comes across a jug of wine. A few moments later, he realizes that there is no other person around to share with him the drink and then he puts some for himself in a cup and toast it to the moon. The moon was regarded to have a special position in the Tang dynasty, making it a key source of inspiration for the speaker. The shadow is also noticed as the speaker too toasts to it, showing the naturality of the objects in the poem. Since the moon in real sense does not have any contact with alcohol, the speaker notes that he and the moon do not read from the same page. The shadow also is not really his peer, but the two play a role as drinking partners. However, the loneliness does not leave him. Later on, he finds happiness as the three find the friendship meaningful, bringing joy to the speaker Li Po, 1996). Analysis Documented during the Tang dynasty, the poem stands to symbolize an attitude that shows Taoism and Zen elements that are both spiritual but traditional Chinese practices. The main aim of the poem is to encourage the reader to connect with nature and detach from the human ties as stated in the Taoist philosophy. In the poem, this central impression is developed via the use of imagery, joyful tone use, and personification. It specifically exemplifies Taoist ideas, with a description of a man enjoying his privacy in nature. Themes The theme of pleasure In the normal contexts, alcohol is known to bring pleasure and some sort of joy to the user. In a similar way, it has certainly the same impact on the speaker in "Drinking Alone beneath the Moon." For example, the upshot is seen in the fifth stanza when the author talks of singing and dancing while he allows the alcohol to take its course. However, the stanza that follows brings in the bittersweet sadness of drinking, informing readers that the speaker is excited when in a sober mood but loses his close friends when he drinks. In this context therefore, the poem’s praise of alcohol as a root to pleasure is combined with Li Po’s pleasure with the friendship that he experiences from the moon and his own shadow. The reader in the end realizes that the value of wine is not its capacity to give pleasure, but its capacity to allow an individual view the world more clearly than before. The author finds his most pressures time in envisioning the world around him to simply have a better understanding of what it really means (Li Po, 1996). Stylistic features in the poem Personification This is a noticeable literary tool used in the entire poem. Li Po takes an initiative to personify the shadow and the moon, making the moon a friend of the speaker and the shadow as his slave. He speaks, “I raise my cup to invite the moon to join me; It and my shadow make a party of three; Alas, the moon is unconcerned about drinking; And my shadow merely follows me around” (Li Po, line 3-6). The introduction of life to lifeless objects in nature implies how the speaker feels that nature is more loyal and friendly; all that he needs. This means that he prefers befriending those who set him free as opposed to those who tie him down. From these scenario, the author wants his readers to accept the fact that sometimes, those whom we consider as the better friends are those who are all surrounding us and ever with us regardless of the circumstances we are in. This message directly mirrors the Taoist philosophy, where the author seems to bring out the message that meditation often bring freedom. The use of imagery This is a powerful and concrete device within this poem. For instance, the line, “A pot of wine among the flowers / I drink alone, no kith or kin near” (Li Po, line 1-2 describes the enduring image of a man lonely sitted in the moonlight taking some wine as he creates a lonely but peaceful setting in the mind of a reader. The biggest reason as to why this poem is great can be traced to the fact that Li Po used a universal image, with which any person can relate. This is because, human beings must associate and make friends but there comes a time when they just need time to be alone. The message here can be interpreted that one can reach the last bliss by making friends with nature and forgetting about men who limit him emotionally, since true happiness needs a long lasting bond with mother earth. Elated tone Without the delightful tone of the speaker, this poem could have lost taste especially when basing on the fact that it talks much about alcohol. Currently, drinking is allied to loss, sadness and sometimes desperation. However, the author made sure that his readers do not feel this sadness because he clarifies that he is more than happy when drinking alone though in the company of the shadow and the moon, who are not humans. He thrills with the two objects, singing and dancing, when extremely drunk. This can be seen in the lines, “Then let us pledge a friendship without human ties; And meet again at the far end of the Milky Way” (Li Po, line 13-15). This must be a friendship he is eager to have and wishes that it lasts forever, an aspect that is reflected in the Tao world. "Drinking Alone beneath the Moon" is not a sad poem at all costs, though at a first glance, it seems so. A reader can also share the happiness of the speaker if he puts himself in his shoes and in the environment that he is in. In an overall view, "Drinking Alone beneath the Moon" is delightfully great and intriguing. To comprehend the real meaning of the poem, one has to understand the philosophies of Taoism concerning detachment. Work Cited PO, LI, and David Hinton. "Drinking Alone Beneath the Moon." The American Poetry Review (1996): 54-54. Read More