Tao Yuanming: Drinking Wine: Twenty Poems: No. 3

Drinking Wine: Twenty Poems: No. 3

饮 酒： 二 十 首

道 丧 向 千 载
人 人 惜 其 情 。
有 酒 不 肯 饮
但 顾 世 间 名。

所 以 贵 我 身
岂 不 在 一 生。
一 生 复 能 几？
倏 如 流 电 惊。
鼎 鼎 百 年 内
持 此 欲 何 成。

(3)

Dao sang xiang qian zai
Ren ren xi qi qing
You jiu bu ken yin
Dan gu shi jian ming

Suo yi gui wo shen
Qi bu zai yi sheng
Yi sheng fu neng ji ?
Shu ru liu dian jing
Ding ding bai nian nei
Chi ci yu he cheng

Drinking Wine: Twenty Poems: No. 3

For almost one thousand years the Way almost disappeared
Everyone has feelings only for themselves.
They have wine, yet not ready to drink
They only care to share with the famous.

They over-value their bodies and life
However, we all have only one life
How many days can one be expected to live?
They fly by as swift as lightning
For a whole and total lifetime people work for the insignificant
Holding onto these desires, how can one find success.

Notes:

The Way: Following the Dao