Reflection

This poem is inspired by a legend about the ancient Chinese poet Li-Bai. It says he was drunk and drowned after jumping into Yangtze River in an attempt to embrace the Moon.

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Has the world turned upside down

Why those trees in the lake are with

Their bottoms on the tops, tops the bottoms

Has the Moon fallen into the lake

Why it lingers on the water

Like a floating silver disc

Is that my twin brother slipped into the waves

His face is trembling

His eyes looking directly into mine

I am all confused now

One more drink I need

To double my courage

I must jump into the lake

To save my brother and scoop up the Moon

Lest they sink deeper into the water

By Shih-Fang Wang

From: United States