Cold Night Tote

Our Cold Night Tote is a collaboration with our dear friend and artist Ben Hillman and with the Chinese Poet Du Lei, dead these last 1000 years or so. But the thing about classical Chinese poetry - the thing that inspired Gary Snyder in the 50's and that still inspires us now - is how immediate some of the poems feel. I just love this poem - this idea of drinking tea with friends - and I love the marriage between Du Lei's text and Ben's illustration. 

The Tote:

This is not a small tote.  Just under 2 feet wide, by a little over a foot tall, with solid handles.  Made of heavy 10 oz organic cotton.   Great for carrying anything smaller than a beagle.  

Printed on both sides, with English and Chinese. 

The Text:

One chilly night my friend stopped in, we drank tea instead of wine.
The kettle bubbled on the bamboo stove, coals glowing red.
In my window the moon shone, same as ever.
But oh! The plum blossoms!

寒夜客來茶當酒
竹爐湯沸火初紅
尋常一樣窗前月
才有梅花便不同