I love you. Tang Poets.

 Li Bai  (701-762 AD)

Here is China's rock star artist in the form of a Poet. He was the greatest Chinese poet of all time.  

Famous for his creativity in crafting over 1000 poems of great beauty that became significant till this day. His poem were so famous that it caught the attention of the Tang Emperor Xuanzong, who became his great fan. Legend has it that the Emperor was so thrilled by his poetry that he once served Li Bai a bowl of soup over dinner. 

As a result of his genius, Li Bai's influence  grew in the corridors of power and before long he was a victim of court politics and was soon banished from the capital. Unperturbed he turned to his wandering ways and toured the countryside writing poetry and indulging in his favourite past time of drinking wine. Many of his poetry championed drunkenness and glorified it as a lifestyle. A nomadic wanderer, free-spirited romantic and rebel. He was also declared a banished immortal.

He was often drunk and believed to be most inspired when drunk with Chinese wine. In fact, legend had it that he died when trying to walk on water toasting the moon with a cup of wine.

During his time, he shared the honour of best poet with his contemporary Du Fu, and became life long friends. 

Here is his poem bidding farewell to his friend;

Sent to Du Fu below Shaqui City ~ Li Bai

What is it that I've come to now?

High before me: Shaqiu city.

Beside the city, ancient trees;

The sunset joins the autumn sounds.

The Lu wine cannot make me drunk,

Qi's songs cannot restore my feelings.

My thoughts of you are like the Wen's waters,

Mightily sent on their southern journey.

Here are 2 famous creations on longing;

Hearing a Flute on a Spring Nite in Luoyang city ~ Li Bai

From whose home secretly flies the sound of a jade flute?

It's lost amid the spring wind which fills Luoyang city.

In the middle of this nocturne I remember the snapped willow,

What person would not start to think of home!

Thoughts on A Still Night ~ Li Bai

Before my bed, the moon is shining bright,

I think that it is frost upon the ground.

I raise my head and look at the bright moon,

I lower my head and think of home.