My translation from the Ancient Greek of ANACREONTA #53

When I push my way into a throng of young men,
my youthful vigor returns, and then, I must dance;
although an old man, I turn into a bird on the wing;
then I am totally crazy; I am in an euphoric frenzy:
Hand me a garland! I want to be clad in a beast pelt!
Grey old age is at this moment far from me,
and I shall dance as a youth among youths.
Some one bring me the harvest wine of Bacchus,
so the god may see for himself the strong old man:
who has learned to celebrate;
who has learned to carouse;
who has learned to gracefully be mad.


For those who may be interested I'll be posting the Greek original to my other Classics blog, http://nekkidass.blogspot.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anacreontea