玉箫金管坐兩頭。
Musicians at both ends, we drift along the shores.
美酒樽中置千斛，
We have sweet wine with singing girls to drink our fill,
載妓隨波任去留。
And so the waves may carry us where'er they will.
仙人有待乘黃鶴，
Immortals could not fly without their yellow crane;
海客無心隨白鷗。
Unselfish men might follow white gulls to the main.
屈平詞賦懸日月，
The verse of Qu Ping② shines as bright as sun and moon,
楚王台榭空山丘。
While palaces of Chu vanish like dreams at noon.
興酣落筆搖五岳，
Seeing my pen in verve, even the mountains shake;
詩成笑傲凌滄洲。
Hearing my laughter proud, the seaside hermits wake.
功名富貴若長在，
If worldly fame and wealth were things to last forever,
漢水亦應西北流。
Then northwestward would turn the eastward-flowing river.