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Friday, January 10, 2020

Last Poem of 2019

 

This is a profile photo in Facebook that popped up one day as someone whom I may know.  Of course, I don't.  However, the photo inspired me to pen the last poem of 2019.  The first line came to my mind was 一道浮橋至天涯. I had trouble with the rhyming scheme and unable to come up with a theme too. I copped out using an easier path - just change the line to 一道浮橋直上天. Still I could not continue for a few more days and the holidays were coming...

Then during my routine jog, I had a sudden break when the line was changed once more and words began to flow...

一道浮橋天外隔 Separated by a floating bridge is a realm beyond,
此世今時紅塵刻 This world, this hour, this moment in the mortal world.
樂盡凡界身不捨 Enjoying to the fullest, still begrudging to part,
到頭總是宴席客 Alas but in the end, only a dinner guest be.

The last line refers to “天下無不散宴席” There is no such thing as an ending banquet.



I thought I was done for the year.  How naive of me because afterwards, 一道浮橋直上天 began to gnaw at me, teasing and challenging me to end.  To cut the story short, I was haunted by it well into the month of the beginning year that I finally, during my brush writing practice that I had something to latch on.  

Taking a cue from the philosopher, Chuang Tzu's butterfly dream, instead of a butterfly being dreamt;  how about an immortal instead?  Though a rushed exercise in mentality, I have time to fine tune it later.  After all, this blog is about my journey in writing...

一道浮橋直上天 One floating bridge straight to heaven,
遙遠蓬萊難相見 The faraway Immortal Isles are hard to peer.
緣顧紅塵依不捨 All because I looked back -- begrudged to leave this mundane world.
恐疑仙界夢中眠 Yet a fearful suspicion that this fairy world is but my sleepy dream. 

I had a wonderful time with you though I am saddened... It seemed that it was not that long ago that I lounged in your springtime, penning another poem...


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