A Rhine-Land Drinking Song

If our own life is the life of a flower

    (And that's what some sages are thinking),

We should moisten the bud with a health-giving flood

      And 'twill bloom all the sweeter—

      Yes, life's the completer

    For drinking,

          and drinking,

                and drinking.

If it be that our life is a journey

    (As many wise folk are opining),

We should sprinkle the way with the rain while we may;

      Though dusty and dreary,

      'Tis made cool and cheery

    With wining,

          and wining,

                and wining.

If this life that we live be a dreaming

    (As pessimist people are thinking),

To induce pleasant dreams there is nothing, meseems,

      Like this sweet prescription,

      That baffles description—

    This drinking,

          and drinking,

                and drinking.