Californication and Li Bo - the poem at the last shot of the opening sequence

For those of you who are wondering what on earth is that poem that appears at the last shot of the opening sequence of Californication season 4 - it appears that it is a poem written 1300 years ago by a Chinese poet named Li Bo or Li Bai.

Facing Wine

by Li Bo

Never refuse wine. I'm telling you, 

people come smiling in spring winds:

peach and plum like old friends, 

their open blossoms scattering toward me,

singing orioles in jade-green trees, 

and moonlight probing gold winejars.

Yesterday we were flush with youth, 

and today, white hair's an onslaught.

Bramble's overgrown Shih-hu Temple, 

and deer roam Ku-su Terrace ruins:

it's always been like this, yellow dust 

choking even imperial gates closed

in the end. If you don't drink wine, 

where are those ancient people now? overgrown

said of a part that has not been kept trimmed.

---

overgrown hoof
overgrown hooves put unusual stresses on bones and tendons and allow for distortion of the wall and sole.
..... Click the link for more information.

The juxtaposition of the last chime of the opening sequence and reading "where are those ancient people now?" is absolutely priceless: