Throughout the poem of Li Bo, I tried to find out if there was any lesson or point that he might want to deliver to us. And, the very last paragraph on page 1029, looked interesting with two particular words in it, power and prestige, something I considered as a hint of a lesson of this poem probably. I thought of the power and prestige as what Li Bo previously wanted as the rebel he joined tried to establish an independent regime. Li Bo, remarks in the last paragraph, “How can I pucker my brows and break my waist serving power and prestige?- it makes me incapable of relaxing heart or face” (lines 64-67, page 1029).  I think he meant that responsibilities or things he has to do being in a society with other people, are inevitable and hardly give him time to rest. Also, this passage possibly means he wants to stick to the nature (mountains, rivers and such) rather than people.

The part, “Drinking Alone with the Moon”, can support my idea that he loves to be in the nature. Of course, it can’t do what people can do, however, in this part of the story, Li Bo seems satisfied by the surrounding/nature even though there is no one to drink with. He remarks, “Let’s pledge-beyond human ties-to be friends,” (line 13, page 1026). Before he says that, he uses the immediate surrounding that he has in order to find drink mates. The moon and his shadow become his friends. It seems he is fine with his new friends who are not people, but the nature, and thankfully they don’t give him any pressure or things to do in order to keep their relationship or anything.

Then what I end up with was my assumption that the lesson of this poem could be that the nature is somewhat precious existence for Li Bo because it can well substitute people and it is even better because it can still enables him to rest and relax.

It is just my opinion anyway, and if you think there’s any message that Li Bo wants to deliver, what would that be?