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Sunday, August 15, 2021

The Immortal Isles - 蓬萊


This poem was inspired by the photo taken of the fog enshrouded Catalina Island on a Sunday on the mainland.


1 西岸晴日東海霧 Sunny on the west bank and foggy in the Eastern Ocean,
2 蓬萊隱若去無路 The Blessed Isles fading in and out with no road to them.
3 說近不近天涯角 To say it’s near but they are at the world’s end,
4 玩弄凡塵眼前露 For the mortal realm is being taunted by appearing in front of their eyes.

1-2 The islands in the Eastern Ocean where immortals dwell.  It is said that the First Emperor of China sent a fleet of 500 virgin boys and 500 virgins there in order to gain the pills of immortality.  In actual fact, to get away from the tyrannical rule and to settle into the new lands.  Of course, the Japanese refused to believe that they were descended from these new settlers.

Friday, August 13, 2021





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