Before The Cask Of Wine

Li Po

The spring wind comes from the east and quickly passes,
Leaving faint ripples in the wine of the golden bowl.
The flowers fall, flake after flake, myriads together.

  You, pretty girl, wine-flushed,
  Your rosy face is rosier still.
  How long may the peach and plum trees flower
  By the green-painted house?
  The fleeting light deceives man,
  Brings soon the stumbling age.

Rise and dance
In the westering sun
While the urge of youthful years is yet unsubdued!
What avails to lament after one's hair has turned white
 like silken threads?

Next 10 Poems

• Li Po : Bringing In The Wine
• Li Po : Chiang Chin Chiu
• Li Po : Ch'ing P'ing Tiao
• Li Po : Chuang Tzu And The Butterfly
• Li Po : Clearing At Dawn
• Li Po : Climbing West Of Lotus Flower Peak
• Li Po : Confessional
• Li Po : Down From The Mountain
• Li Po : Drinking Alone
• Li Po : Drinking With Someone In The Mountains

Previous 10 Poems

• Li Po : Bathed And Washed
• Li Po : Autumn River Song
• Li Po : Amidst The Flowers A Jug Of Wine
• Li Po : Alone Looking At The Mountain
• Li Po : Alone And Drinking Under The Moon
• Li Po : About Tu Fu
• Li Po : A Vindication
• Li Po : A Mountain Revelry
• Katherine Philips : To One Persuading A Lady To Marriage
• Katherine Philips : To My Excellent Lucasia, On Our Friendship