A poem of hedonism?

A poem of hedonism?
Feb 14, 2008 02:52
SUMMERSNOW Points: Join Date: Dec 19, 2007 Status: offline	In ancient China, a lot of poets are hedonistic. They can't compose poems without becoming drunk. Li Bai , a talented poet in the Tang Dynasty, produced great works after he got drunk. His poem was full of hedonism. This English poem is similar to one of Li Bai's poem. One line is: "You should enjoy drinking the wine to your heart content" What do you think of this poem and the poet? You have to be always drunk. That's all there is to it--it's the only way. So as not to feel the horrible burden of time that breaks your back and bends you to the earth, you have to be continually drunk. But on what? Wine, poetry or virtue, as you wish. But be drunk. And if sometimes,on the steps of a palace or the green grass of a ditch, in the mournful solitude of your room, you wake again, drunkenness already diminishing or gone, ask the wind, the wave, the star, the bird, the clock, everything that is flying, everything that is groaning, everything that is rolling, everything that is singing, everything that is speaking. . . ask what time it is and wind, wave, star, bird, clock will answer you: "It is time to be drunk! So as not to be the martyred slaves of time,be drunk, be continually drunk! On wine, on poetry or on virtue as you wish."

Feb 14, 2008 02:52

SUMMERSNOW
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In ancient China, a lot of poets are hedonistic. They can't compose poems without becoming drunk. Li Bai , a talented poet in the Tang Dynasty, produced great works after he got drunk. His poem was full of hedonism. This English poem is similar to one of Li Bai's poem. One line is: "You should enjoy drinking the wine to your heart content" What do you think of this poem and the poet?

You have to be always drunk.

That's all there is to it--it's the
only way.

So as not to feel the horrible burden of time that breaks
your back and bends you to the earth,

you have to be continually drunk.
But on what?

Wine, poetry or virtue, as you wish. But be drunk.
And if sometimes,on the steps of a palace

or the green grass of a ditch,
in the mournful solitude of your room,

you wake again,
drunkenness already diminishing or gone,

ask the wind, the wave,
the star, the bird, the clock,

everything that is flying, everything
that is groaning, everything that is rolling, everything that is
singing, everything that is speaking. . .

ask what time it is and
wind, wave, star, bird, clock will answer you:

"It is time to be drunk!

So as not to be the martyred slaves of time,be drunk, be
continually drunk!

On wine, on poetry or on virtue as you wish."

Feb 14, 2008 20:32	#1
ICEBLUE Points: Join Date: Aug 30, 2007 Status: Offline	The poet must be a drunkard! A Chinese saying goes, poets and artists are a group of freaks. In the average people' eyes, they are abnormal.

Feb 14, 2008 21:21	#2
SHESGOTTOBE Points: Join Date: Nov 23, 2007 Status: Offline	You have to be always drunk? O_O No, thanks. I want to be sober when I'm having fun! ^_^

Feb 15, 2008 18:39	#3
APAULT Points: Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Status: Offline	Yes, much better to be sober! But being drunk is not hedonism....hedonism is making pleasure the purpose and centre of life.

Feb 15, 2008 19:43

LEMONCACTUS
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I think there's a general trend towards experimenting with drink/drugs whatever with artists in general, poets being no exception.

Personally I love Li Bai and his poetry, which is to me romantic, tied to the earth and the seasons, tinted with nostalgia and beauty, but never sentimental. His drunkenness never seemed to impact on the precision of the poetic forms he used either.

I love the above poem. I don't think it's about being drunk per se on alcohol... I think it's about being drunk on life... and if we look at what being "drunk" is, it's about being overwhelmed and crazy and sometimes it feels like flying and sometimes it feels like dying... Anyone who has ever been drunk can't deny that it heightens the emotions and releases you from inhibitions.... Translate that into being drunk on life... sounds interesting to me.

The poet is quite clever... in the final line "on wine, on poetry or on virtue" means even if you want to get drunk on "not getting drunk" and being good and pure... well that's OK too. Obviously nods in here to the Chinese poets and also a sense of tongue in cheekness about it.

Thanks for posting this. By the way who is the poet?

Feb 15, 2008 21:49

MARRIE
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When you wake up is the time pains creep up to you.

Another spontaneous poem by Li Bai

Drinking Alone under the Moon (月下獨酌)

花間一壺酒。 Amongst the flowers is a pot of wine;
獨酌無相親。 I pour alone but with no friend at hand;
舉杯邀明月。 So I lift the cup to invite the shining moon;
對影成三人。 Along with my shadow, a fellowship of three.
月既不解飲。 The moon understands not the art of drinking;
影徒隨我身。 The shadow gingerly follows my movements;
暫伴月將影。 Still I make the moon and the shadow my company;
行樂須及春。 To enjoy the springtime before too late.
我歌月徘徊。 The moon lingers while I am singing;
我舞影零亂。 The shadow scatters while I am dancing;
醒時同交歡。 We share the cheers of delight when sober;
醉後各分散。 We separate our ways after getting drunk;
永結無情遊。 Forever will we keep this unfettered friendship;
相期邈雲漢。 Til we meet again far in the Milky Way.

Feb 16, 2008 01:40	#6
SHESGOTTOBE Points: Join Date: Nov 23, 2007 Status: Offline	What a lonely poem, Marie. So lonely, I could cry. :-(

Feb 17, 2008 21:17

LEONARDO
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Hi, being drunk does not mean " hedonism". I got a line which reads "life is fine as wine".

Life is Fine
Langston Hughes

I went down to the river,
I set down on the bank.
I tried to think but couldn't,

So I jumped in and sank.
I came up once and hollered!
I came up twice and cried!

If that water hadn't a-been so cold
I might've sunk and died.
But it was cold in that water! It was cold!

I took the elevator
sixteen floors above the ground.
I thought about my baby

and thought I would jump down.
I stood there and I hollered!
I stood there and I cried!

If it hadn't a-been so high
I might've jumped and died.
But it was high up there! It was high!

So since I'm still here living',
I guess I will live on.
I could've died for love--

But for living' I was born
Though you may hear me holler,
And you may see me cry--

I'll be dogged, sweet baby,
If you goanna see me die.
Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!

Nov 14, 2012 10:46	#8
GUEST12191	oh dear. to be drunk is not to be taken literally as drinking drunk just because the author was, it is to be drunk on whatever is your pleasure. are you people adults or infants?

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