THE POET IS DETAINED IN A NANKING WINE-SHOP ON THE EVE OF STARTING ON A JOURNEY
Florence Wheelock Ayscough translation
BY LI T'AI-PO
The wind blows. The inn is filled with the scent of willow-flowers. In the wine-shops of Wu, women are pressing the wine. The sight invites customers to taste. The young men and boys of Nanking have gathered to see me off; I wish to start, but I do not, and we drink many, many horn cups to the bottom. I beg them to look at the water flowing toward the East, And when we separate to let their thoughts follow its example and run constantly in my direction.