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Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Ocean Inspirations

 
These two poems were inspired by the ocean views in San Pedro on a lovely sunny afternoon...

This one is from the Royal Palms Park, the site of the former Royal Palms Hotel.

綿綿濤音不絕歌 The unceasing sounds of the singing tide,
潮潮莫愁岸上破 Wave upon wave crashing the shores without fret.
海鷗飛影翔青天 fleeting shadows of seagulls soaring the blue sky,
逍遙人生景前過 Life passes before this vista, nary a care be.



And finally, this is from the Korean Friendship Bell Park...

1 東海含烟閣 Cloud Imbibing Pavilion in the Eastern Ocean,
2 西畔孤亭樂 Solitary joy on the Terrace by the Western bank.
3 凡塵晴天和 A harmonious sunny day in the mortal realm,
4 人生醉銀幕 Life’s so much better than fantasy.


1 It is believed that the three Immortal Isles are located in the Eastern Ocean. Cloud Imbibing is the name of the Pavilion. 含 means contained in the mouth without chewing. This line refers to clouds obscuring the ocean on the right. A stretch of imagining them to be the buildings in the Immortal Isles.

3 晴 has the same sound as 情 – love, thus a sunny day – a day in love

4 The silver screen of the movies. A direct translation from English. It can also be interpreted as art imitates life.

Wednesday, July 7, 2021



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