Drinking Alone

The poem

I take my wine jug out among the flowers to drink alone, without friends.

I raise my cup to entice the moon. That, and my shadow, makes us three.

But the moon doesn't drink, and my shadow silently follows.

I will travel with moon and shadow, happy to the end of spring.

When I sing, the moon dances. When I dance, my shadow dances, too.

We share life's joys when sober. Drunk, each goes a separate way.

Constant friends, although we wander, we'll meet again in the Milky Way.