Drinking Alone During Constant Rain
All lives come to an end
since ancient times it's been so
we hear the names of Song and Qiao
but where are they now
an old friend gave me some wine
he said it would make me immortal
I tried a cup and my cares disappeared
I poured again and forgot about Heaven
how could Heaven be other than here
nothing surpasses accepting what's real
celestial cranes with their magic wings
might reach the world's edge with a flap
since I embraced this truth
I have made it through forty years
my body may have changed long ago
my mind without doubt is still here
________________________
Tao Yuanming
translated by Red Pine
Copper Canyon Press, 2023
