Among the five grains, there is a licentious brew,
Which even Yao and Shun never tasted a drop.
The principle of tension and relaxation may allow,
Yet from this, the demon of wine in the world did crop.
At first, like a trickle from Mount Min's source it flowed,
Then grew into rivers across the lands bestowed.
To moisten the parched and revive the withered might be right,
But floods that drown the world bring endless plight.
How many have offered their lives to beg the sea-monster's grace?
How many homes were ruined, leaving no city's trace?
From ancient times to now, disasters like fish and turtle in Yongjia's case,
Yet none today blame Bi Zhuo for his drunken disgrace.
Sages and wise men plan with foresight long,
Building iron walls as dikes, sturdy and strong.
Even revered flowing water may overflow,
So ban the rise of wine, do not let it grow.
Strict overseers stand like frost and snow,
With no excess, no measure beyond they know.
Never have there been wild, unsteady scenes,
But upright beauties, pure as ice, serene.
Alas, the world declines, waves run mad and high,
No Duke of Zhou appears, nor Duke Wei of old to defy.
The Han's stone bridges drained the sea's domain,
The Tang's golden dragons spanned distances in vain.
Up and down, routine makes it daily fare,
Clogging the gutters, turning organs to despair.
Harming people and things, offending earth's core,
Disturbing heaven and earth, yin and yang evermore.
The sage ruler rises early, easing people's distress,
His light shines everywhere, bringing happiness.
Relief in famine by law is surely due,
But this matter needs deeper discussion too.
East and West Jin's Emperor Wu repeated mistakes anew,
Li Bai and Du Fu both drowned in wine's rue.
Before the Xia, all ages were sagely and grand,
Were there no noble guests or spirits in the land?
If the four virtues are not upheld, it's not fine,
A man without rites is better dead, in line.
Ruan Ji's crime deserved exile to frontiers afar,
Shan Jian's drunken cap even more muddled the bar.
Wang Maohong is the lifeblood of Jiangdong's fate,
Tao Shixing, like a parent to Jingzhou, great.
I beg for ten more years of banning feasts and ale,
So scholars may thrive and peace never fail.