Early Spring Morning in The Oregon Cascades

Waking from Drunkenness on a Spring Day, Li Po (c. 750, trans. Arthur Waley, 1919)

“Life in the World is but a big dream;

I will not spoil it by any labour or care.”

So saying, I was drunk all the day,

Lying helpless at the porch in front of my door.

When I woke up, I blinked at the garden-lawn;

A lonely bird was singing amid the flowers.

I asked myself, had the day been wet or fine?

The Spring wind was telling the mango-bird.

Moved by its song I soon began to sigh,

And as wine was there I filled my own cup.

Wildly singing I waited for the moon to rise;

When my song was over, all my senses had gone.