Li Bai: Let's Drink! 李白 君不見黃河之水天上來 奔流到海不復回 Poem by Frank Yue

Let's Drink!
- Li Bai
- Translated by Frank C Yue

Can't you see the waters of the Yellow River
Come down from the sky,
They rush to the sea and never
Back this way come by?
Can't you see from the clear mirror in the great hall
Your coal-black hair in the Morning
Has sadly turned snow-white in the Evening?
When you're successful and on top of the world wide,
Do enjoy yourself to the utmost soon -
Never leave an empty wine
Bottle facing in vain the bright Moon.

The Heaven's given me talents fine,
These will be put to good use for a purpose high!
I may spend a thousand pieces of gold easily,
Back to me another thousand would come surely.
Now, slaughter the goat, butcher the cow, and make merry!
Together, let's drink three hundred cups!
Master Cen and Priest Dan, my good friends,
Don't you ever stop!
I'll sing a song for you -
Please lend me your ears, too.

The dinner bell and drum,
Calling forth exquisite meals are quite worthless;
I wish we were so drunk
We would never sober up!
Down the ages, lonely are all the wise sages;
Only good drinkers will be remembered by the masses.
For merry-making, King Chen at Pingle Temple in the past,
On fine wine spent a thousand pieces of gold for a vase.
Should the master say he has not enough money, why?
Someone should go and buy more fine wine.
The precious stallion and the mink fur, ask your son to pawn them
And just bring us fine wine (- unlike the sages) ,
To drown our endless sorrows down the ages!

(2020.11.24)

《將進酒》 李白

君不見黃河之水天上來，奔流到海不復回。
君不見高堂明鏡悲白髮，朝如青絲暮成雪。
人生得意須盡歡，莫使金樽空對月。
天生我材必有用，千金散盡還複來。
烹羊宰牛且為樂，會須一飲三百杯。
岑夫子，丹丘生，將進酒，君莫停。
與君歌一曲，請君為我側耳聽。

鐘鼓饌玉不足貴，但願長醉不願醒。
古來聖賢皆寂寞，惟有飲者留其名。
陳王昔時宴平樂，鬥酒十千恣歡謔。
主人何為言少錢，徑須沽取對君酌。
五花馬，千金裘，呼兒將出換美酒，
與爾同銷萬古愁。