Drink Up

Hast thou not seen the Yellow River’s water skyward flow,
Never to return to its ancient bed below?
Hast thou not seen the silken tresses white with age,
Once as bright as morning’s glory, now like snow on a sage?

Life is but a fleeting moment, let us live it with delight,
Drink from the golden goblet, and let the moon shine bright.
Born with talents, let us put them to good use,
Though we may spend a fortune, it will return with no excuse.

Let us feast on roasted lamb and beef, and drink with all our might,
Three hundred cups or more, for this is our delight.
With a song I’ll drink to you, my dear old friend,
So lift your cup and let the music never end.

Fine jade and gold are nothing in comparison,
All I want is to be drunk, with no thought of rising.
The wise and holy men of old were all alone,
But let us leave our names behind with every cup we’ve known.
In days of old, King Chen would feast and be merry,
Drinking ten thousand cups, with no thought of being wary.
Why should the host speak of money, when there’s wine to pour,
Let us drink and be happy, and let our worries be no more.

Five horses and a fur of gold, what do they matter,
When we can buy more wine, and forget life’s bitter chatter.
Together we’ll drink, and forget all sorrow and pain,
For in wine and song, our troubles will forever wane.