Going Down Chung-Nan Mountain and Spending the Night Drinking

WITH THE HERMIT TOU-SSŬ

At dusk we left the blue mountain-head;

The mountain-moon followed our homeward steps.

We looked round: the path by which we had come

Was a dark cleft across the shoulder of the hill.

Hand in hand we reached the walls of the farm;

A young boy opened the wicker-gate.

Through green bamboos a deep road ran

Where dark creepers brushed our coats as we passed.

We were glad at last to come to a place of rest,

With wine enough to drink together to our fill,

Long I sang to the tune of the Pine-tree Wind;

When the song was over, the River-stars were few.

I was drunk and you happy at my side;

Till mingled joy drove the World from our hearts.

Stars of the Milky Way.