Li Po (also known as Li Bai) was an acclaimed Chinese poet and romantic figure who lived from 701 to 762. Despite being considered one of the greatest poets of the Tang dynasty-commonly referred to as the "Golden Age of Chinese Poetry"-the poetry of Li Po remains underappreciated in the West. Translated by Shigeyoshi Obata,
The Poems of Li Po
is a beautiful presentation of Li Po's poetry for Western audiences. These diverse poems highlight his varying sensibilities; from drunken carousing and romantic endeavors to meditations on friendship and solitude, they remain as delightfully engaging as when they were first penned over a thousand years ago.