Shadows

 While reading about the shadows in The City and its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami.

 "Drinking Alone by Moonlight" (月下独酌)

Chinese (Original):
花间一壶酒，
独酌无相亲。
举杯邀明月，
对影成三人。
月既不解饮，
影徒随我身。
暂伴月将影，
行乐须及春。
我歌月徘徊，
我舞影零乱。
醒时同交欢，
醉后各分散。
永结无情游，
相期邈云汉。

Pinyin (Romaji):
Huā jiān yī hú jiǔ,
Dú zhuó wú xiāng qīn.
Jǔ bēi yāo míng yuè,
Duì yǐng chéng sān rén.
Yuè jì bù jiě yǐn,
Yǐng tú suí wǒ shēn.
Zàn bàn yuè jiāng yǐng,
Xíng lè xū jí chūn.
Wǒ gē yuè pái huí,
Wǒ wǔ yǐng líng luàn.
Xǐng shí tóng jiāo huān,
Zuì hòu gè fēn sàn.
Yǒng jié wú qíng yóu,
Xiāng qī miǎo yún hàn.

Translation (by Witter Bynner):
A pot of wine, among the flowers,
I drink alone, no friend with me.
I raise my cup to invite the moon,
And my shadow, who is my only friend,
We drink together as three.
The moon does not understand drinking,
And my shadow follows me in vain.
We take the moon as companion,
And with it, I must be happy before spring.
I sing, and the moon lingers near me,
I dance, and my shadow is in disarray.
When sober, we share joy together,
When drunk, we part ways.
We part ways and wander alone,
Making a long-lasting bond in the heavens.