Bright Moon, White Clouds: Selected Poems of Li Po

by Li Bai, J.P. Seaton

His work is one of the glories of Chinese poetry’s golden age, and it has not ceased to delight readers in the twelve centuries since. Li Po (701–762) wrote of the pleasures of nature, of wine, and of the life of a wandering poet  in a way that speaks to us across the centuries with remarkable intimacy—and that special, timeless quality is one of the reasons Li Po became the first of the Chinese poets to gain wide appreciation in the West. His influence is felt in the work of artists as diverse as Ezra Pound and Gustav Mahler. J. P. Seaton’s translations—which include some poems that appear here in English for the first time—bring the poet vividly and playfully to life, and his introductory essay broadens our view of Li Po, both the poet and the man.

Genres: Poetry, China, Chinese Literature, Classics

243 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2012

About the author

Li Bai (Chinese: 李白, 701–762), also known as Li Bo or Li Taibai, was one of the most celebrated poets of the Tang dynasty and remains one of the greatest poets in Chinese history. Renowned for his romanticism, vivid imagery, and effortless flow, his poetry has captivated readers for over a millennium. Alongside Du Fu, he is considered a towering figure of classical Chinese poetry. His works reflect a deep appreciation for nature, the joys and sorrows of life, and a fascination with Daoist philosophy, all infused with an unmistakable sense of personal freedom and spontaneity.
Born in 701 CE, likely in Suyab (modern-day Kyrgyzstan) or what is now Gansu province, China, Li Bai spent his early years in Sichuan, where his family relocated during his childhood. Growing up in an era of expansion and cultural flourishing, he received a broad education that included classical literature, Daoist philosophy, and swordsmanship. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he never sat for the imperial examinations, choosing instead a life of travel and poetic expression. From a young age, he embraced a wandering lifestyle, traveling extensively across China and seeking the company of scholars, recluses, and Daoist mystics. His poetry from this period often reflects themes of solitude, the beauty of the natural world, and a longing for spiritual transcendence.
As his reputation as a poet grew, he attracted the admiration of influential figures and was eventually invited to the imperial court of Emperor Xuanzong around 742 CE. There, he enjoyed a brief period of favor, composing poetry for the emperor and mingling with the elite. However, his free-spirited nature and disdain for courtly formalities led to conflicts with powerful officials, and he was soon dismissed from the court, resuming his wandering existence.
Li Bai’s poetry is characterized by its lyrical beauty, spontaneity, and emotional depth. He drew inspiration from nature, Daoist philosophy, and personal experiences, often reflecting on themes of longing, exile, and the fleeting nature of life. Wine and revelry frequently appear in his verses as symbols of transcendence. His mastery of poetic form, including fu (rhapsodic prose-poetry) and yuefu (folk-style poetry), set him apart as a poetic genius. Some of his most famous works include Drinking Alone Under the Moon, a meditation on solitude and the companionship of nature; Hard is the Road to Shu, a dramatic depiction of the perilous journey to Sichuan; and Quiet Night Thoughts, a simple yet profoundly evocative poem about homesickness.
During the An Lushan Rebellion, which erupted in 755 and plunged the Tang Dynasty into turmoil, Li Bai became entangled in the political conflict by aligning himself with Prince Yong, a rival claimant to the throne. When the prince’s rebellion failed, Li Bai was arrested and sentenced to exile in what is now Guizhou. He was later pardoned and continued his travels, but his final years were marked by declining health. He died in 762 CE, reportedly from illness, though legend has it that he drowned while trying to embrace the reflection of the moon in a river—a fitting myth for a poet so enraptured by the beauty of the world.
Li Bai’s poetry has endured for over a thousand years, influencing countless poets and remaining a cornerstone of Chinese literature. His works continue to be widely read and studied, celebrated for their unrestrained imagination, emotional resonance, and philosophical insight. His legacy as a poet of boundless spirit and artistic brilliance ensures that his verses still inspire generations of readers and writers across the world.

Reviews

[Fleece · Rating 5 out of 5]

-seaton is hilarious
-doesn't use pinyin so there's the apostrophes and odd things of the other system idk the name of
-will be sad forever no chinese/english side to side except for the two in the back

can't really talk about the poetry itself without becoming a sobbing mess because of memories of relatives reciting poetry in cantonese and patiently explaining it to me and me forgetting it all anyway

[Helen Hagemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Currently reading this collection, thanks to another Goodreader who has directed me to Li Po. I have bought this as an e-book. I especially like reading the biography of Li Po (701-762) and reading his great images in lines such as "In the jade cup it's almost tiger-striped by the light" (from Lines on the Road).
Helen Hagemann

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Li Po is regarded along with Tu Fu (or Du Fu) as the greatest of Tang poets. Love his language and imagery he uses in his poems. Poetry was in fact a part of daily life and was needed in civil service jobs during China's Tang Dynasty.

Did not read this actual book. Poems I have read by Li Po:
The Sun Rises and Sets
South of the Walls We Fought
Bring in the Wine (basically, live it up)
Question and Answer in the Mountains – Loved this one; brief yet not.
Summer Day in the Mountains
Drinking Alone with the Moon
The Hardships of Traveling the Road I
Seeing Off Meng Haoran at the Yellow Crane Tower, on His Way to Guangling
In the Quiet Night
Sitting Alone by Jingting Mountain
A Song on Visiting Heaven's Crone Mountain in a Dream: On Parting

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Li Po but this collection falls flat for me. The poem selection wasn’t very good and I feel like the translation is bad as well. There is another collection out there that is a reproduction of a 1920s era translation, that one is the best! Don’t let this one be your first Li Po collection you read.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

another reviewer said this book did not contain the best collection of li po’s poetry. i hope so, because most of these poems are about drinking and being drunk.

nevertheless, there are enough non-drunk poems here that establish the poet’s skill and creative ear. i love the meditative style of this kind of chinese poetry.

[H]

The kind of timeless poetry that feels like it could have been written yesterday but was in fact written over a thousand years ago

"The moon rises like a flying mirror,/ and the clouds grow into towers out above the/ sea..." (70)

"Nothing's final. Mud, darkness. Beginning again" (92)

"Conceal yourself, your only treasure" (111)

[Nique 💫 chroniqled ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enlightening. ✨
Love how this book was given as a gift to me by my dear friend Kali, and it was such a serendipitous coincidence bc Bukowski, one of my fave poets, kept talking about Li Po’s poetry in his own poems. 🤣

[Amber Scaife · Rating 2 out of 5]

Usually poetry of the antique variety appeals to me a great deal, and I was excited to read this collection, but for some reason it just didn't click with me. *shrug*

[Christopherseelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The translator's introduction and appendices are the secret treasure of this book.

[Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t know there could be such relatable words from so long ago

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

- Not very familiar with Chinese poetry so perhaps I needed more background to truly appreciate this. That being said, it's not difficult to get a vivid and romantic sense of Li Po's life. Whether he's drinking, reminiscing about friends, or travelling, he imbues the poems with a sense of wonder and nostalgia. Overall, I would say I did enjoy this compilation.
- I would've liked a more no-nonsense guide to all of the poems though. There were a lot of little things like names or places that I had to research myself so more notes would've been helpful.
- The explanations that we do get in the appendix are very detailed for the most part and really flesh out the poems. The guide for "Thoughts on a Quiet Night" in particular, is brilliant. Really opened my eyes to the beauty and complexity of Chinese poetry as well as the genius of Li Po. The line by line, character by character descriptions are wonderful.

[Abbi Dion · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poems, yes, wonderful; but the translator's textual notes to the poem , the introduction, the appendix are also stupendous. For example, "The traditional Chinese had a habit of "using" the moon for an imaginative sort of long-distance communication with loved ones. In fact, in traditional times, there existed a "moon-viewing party," at which people sat quietly on moonlit nights, particularly under a full moon, and thought of (or pondered) loved ones far away, inside the vast reaches of China proper and even overseas, who might themselves be sitting sharing the same moon at the same time, in the same reverent silence." J.P. Seaton

Also, "Ezra Pound's ecstatic experience of this poem (Jade Stairs Lament) led directly to the beginning of "Imagism" and thereby, for better or worse, to the creation of a new kind of poetry in America." J.P. Seaton (hahahaha.)

And, RE "After the Ancients," Seaton writes "Autumn water has several connotations. Streams that are always muddy in spring are usually low and therefore clear in autumn in North China, where Chinese poetry began, and so, when a poet refers to a woman's eyes, Autumn water often means that they are clear."

OVERNIGHT WITH A FRIEND

To bathe, to let float away the griefs of a
thousand ages,
and then to drown
in a hundred jugs of wine.
A pretty night, perfect for talk, for philosophy
and a moon so bright. What sort of man could
sleep?
Finally, finally really drunk, we slept in the open, on the mountainside,
Heaven and Earth, our covers, our pillows.

Li Po

[W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great new edition/selection of Li Po (I guess Jerome Seaton decided to stick with Wade-Giles, instead of the more recent "Li Bai.") I think Seaton, along with Jonathan Chaves, is one of the best Western translators of Chinese poetry - both have a knack for getting the poems into the vernacular (though I'm no expert, mind you!). What is especially fine about this selection is the intro, as well as the notes, which are both very helpful/entertaining/edifying. Seaton also provides an appendix which details his translation methods, which allows the reader to really get under the surface of the poems.

[ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic collection, with excellent translations and great footnotes explaining the hidden meanings and attempting to clarify ambiguities that are necessitated by any translation.

I only have two complaints: (1) even more thorough notes would be appreciated, and many poems have none, and (2) the structure is annoying when you have to keep flipping back and forth to the appendix to get those notes. It would be far pleasant reading experience in a more annotated format, with notes on the adjacent page instead of buried in the appendix.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the poems, especially the travel ones, but, as with any poetry in translation, I wonder how much the act of translation detracts from the poetry in its original language. How much meaning and subtext its list in the translation into English and how much latitude did the translator give himself when trying to convey those meanings into English?

[Artie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sea voyager, on heavens winds,
In his ship, far wandering

Like a bird, among the clouds,
He'll leave no trace.



El marinero, sobre los vientos del cielo,
En su barca, "Vaga Lejos"

Un pájaro, sobre las nubes,
Oculto, no deja una pista

[stephanie cassidy]

Subtle, seemingly understated,
a razor into sight

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt & compelling.