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Yin3  cha2  ge1 qiao4  cui1  shi2 shi3  jun1 

《饮茶歌·诮崔石使君》

皎然  Jiao Ran

Yue4  ren2  yi2  wo3  shan4  xi1  ming2 　　
越人遗我剡溪茗，
cai3  de2  jin1  ya2  cuan4  jin1  ding3
采得金牙爨金鼎。
su4  ci2  xue3  se4  piao1  mo4  xiang1 　　
素瓷雪色缥沫香，
he2  si4  zhu1  xian1  qiong2  rui1  jiang1
何似诸仙琼蕊浆。
yi1  yin3  di2  hun1  mei4 　　
一饮涤昏寐，
qing2  lai2  lang3  shuang3  man3  tian1  di4
情来朗爽满天地。
zai4  yin3  qing1  wo3  shen2 　　
再饮清我神，
hu1  ru2  fei1  yu3  sa3  qing1  chen2
忽如飞雨洒轻尘。
san1  yin3  bian4  de2  dao4
三饮便得道，
he2  xu1  ku3  xin1  po4  fan2  nao3
何须苦心破烦恼。
ci3  wu4  qing1  gao1  shi4  mo4  zhi1　　
此物清高世莫知，
shi4  ren2  yin3  jiu3  duo1  zi4  qi1
世人饮酒多自欺。
chou2  kan4  bi4  zhuo2  weng4  jian1  ye4
愁看毕卓瓮间夜，
xiao4  xiang4  tao2  qian3  li2  xia4  shi2
笑向陶潜篱下时。
cui1  hou2  chuo4  zhi1  yi4  bu4  yi3 　　
崔侯啜之意不已，
kuang2  ge1  yi1  qu3  jing1  ren2  er3
狂歌一曲惊人耳。
shu2  zhi1  cha2  dao4  quan2  er3  zhen1　　
孰知茶道全尔真，
wei2  you3  dan1  qiu1  de2  ru2  ci3
唯有丹丘得如此。

English Translation:

SONG OF DRINKING TEA WITH SENIOR OFFICIAL CUI

Jiao Ran

A friend from Zhejiang presented me
with a gift of tea from Shanxi

The tender leaves were picked
and brewed in a golden caldron

When poured into a white porcelain cup
a delicate foam floats to the top
giving a lingering delicious fragrance

The tea tastes
as if it were an ambrosia
specially presented to the immortals

One cup wakes the head
from a night’s deep slumber

The second cup clears the mind
settling idle ambiguities

The third cup opens
the essence of life bringing
relief from anxiety and stress

Unfortunately few people
can comprehend
the benefits of tea drinking

These deluded people drink alcohol
to intoxicate themselves believing
it can help open other visions and perceptions

How sad to see Bi Zhuo
gulping wine in his small chamber
night after night having no concern
for his responsibilities

Personally
I prefer the life and attitudes of Tao Qian
the rural poet living among
a remote countryside drinking tea
moderately before retiring to bed

Now Official Cui is sipping this tea
and loudly singing his joy and satisfaction

His deafening song expresses some comprehension
to the Way of Tea which arrives from
Daoism, Confucianism and Buddhism

Maybe only
the immortals can figure it out