Meng Haoran: Should Child-Like Complexion Be Kept, Of Old Age We Could Be Free -- 孟浩然 童顏若可駐， 何惜醉流霞。 Poem by Frank Yue

QING MING RI YIN MEI TAO SHI FANG:
At Qingming Dining at Taoist Priest Mei's Mountain Lodge
-- by Meng Haoran (689-740)
-- Translated by Frank C Yue

Beside the woods in bed, I lament Spring shall be no more;
To enjoy the fine scene, I draw back the curtains and door.
Suddenly, Messenger-Bluebird comes, invites me to dine
At the fairy residence of the deity Red Pine.

For the elixir-tripod, just started is a new fire;
Flowering are longevity-peaches that humans desire.
Should child-like complexion be kept, of old age we could be free --
Let's be drunk, drink the immortal's wine o' flowing clouds to the lees!


【清明日宴梅道士房】 唐 • 孟浩然

林臥愁春盡， 開軒覽物華。
忽逢青鳥使， 邀入(我) 赤松家。
丹灶初開火， 仙桃正落(發) 花。
童顏若可駐， 何惜醉流霞。