2 樹下逍遙醉顏紅 Carefreeness under the tree, an inebriated face of red.
3 蔭涼酒暖何須伴 The shade is cool and the wine is warm – so why the need of a companion?
4 只待嫦娥遲早夢 All I have to do is to wait for the early or late coming of the moon goddess!
1 Literally the songs of the hills.
3 Ancient Chinese love their wine warm or even hot.
4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang%27e
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
This was created after my jogging and recording the previous poem I created before my jog. At the same time, I was practising my brush by writing down a classical Tang Dynasty poem, 江楓夜泊.
1 寒山飛雪縹緲白 The cold mountain where snow flying in faintly discernable white,
2 斜陽力倦夜臨黑 Weak are the rays of the angled sun as night approaches in black.
3 無情冰月暗餘憐 The heartless icy moon but secretly harboring still some remaining pity,
4 有意催逼趕路客 With the intention of pressing this traveller to continue his journey.
1 Must be a heavy snowstorm that eyes could hardly stayed open.
4 For the moon is bright enough to light up the path.
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
This is my third poem of the day. This was written in the night as I was inspired while listening to this piece of Buddhist chant from Youtube that I had stumbled onto it while searching for 江楓夜泊. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2WlomCIj6I
Leave bygone things as they were – in our memories or buried past. Search not for it, as reality may not be pleasant anymore. Looking up an unrequited love is an example. No longer is that person before our very eyes a 16 year old beauty of today. Whatever dreams we had, are now dashed to smithereens…
1 隱約蓬島弄人空 The Blessed Isles fading in and out will tease any man into emptiness,
2 遠近凡塵戲仙夢 Whether the human realm is far or near, a jesting dream for immortals.
3 紫泉烟鎖兩岸隔 Mists from fairy pools will lock the shores of both worlds apart,
4 雪山情迷憶春紅 And infatuated snowcapped mountains tops yearning for the colors of spring.
1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Penglai
2 “red dust” is a Buddhist term for the mortal world.
3 Ancient Chinese believe that anything that has a purplish hue is an indication of something is auspicious or has fairyness to it.
4 Literally, “snow mountains” and symbolizes an aged person with white hair. 春紅 literally means “spring red” to denote red flowers to denote “youth” or the colors of spring.
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
The first line came about in my state between dream and consciousness, most probably from the title of the Tang poem, 江楓夜泊 which I had been practising with my brush writing. When, I got up, tried to complete the poem before going for my jog. It was then that I was able to refine and add a second stanza. By now the sun had broken through the clouds and was shining too brightly. I had to go back into the house to get my large straw hat for shading. Might as well take the time to have it written down before I forget. Sure enough, during my second half of my routine, a new poem came easily into being as my emotional state was in a flux.
1 月照舊夢船舟泊 Moon beams over old dreams as boats moored in stillness,
2 枉費銀光殷勤敬 Silvery light generously offered in utmost care, but a wasted.
3 忽傳愁曲遠簫送 When suddenly, a soulful melody came wafting from a faraway flute,
4 散入矇矓往日景 Dispersing into the scenes of bygone days in my subconscious.
5 多年隔別秋未到 Many a year since I had left and autumn has yet to approach,
6 一刻歸還春已醒 But the moment of return, spring awoke.
7 當時萬象歎莫識 It was then, sighing at the myriad sights, nary a thing recognized,
8 前世土生今異情 A native-born from a previous life, now a new feeling of foreignness.
2 The beautiful moonlight is thoroughly wasted on sleeping people.
4 矇矓 means hazy, indiscernible images perceived by the eye or consciousness. I refrain from using the yogic term, “unmani” to mean the state between the conscious and the subconscious or the scientific term, hypnagogia.
5 Has not reached the autumn years of life, implying that the days of youth was spent away from home.
6 Inspired on seeing that the majority of waiting families at the airport were so young looking.
7 Felt like a tourist coming out from customs area’s glass sliding door and into the public waiting area. No homecoming welcome.
8 Poetic exaggeration, so long ago that it was like another lifetime.
Saturday, February 11, 2023
2 老時膽細覓舊夢 But the cautious aged would find comfort in dreams of old.
3 人性如此何逆有 Is this not the norm of human nature?
4 莫妒青春享夕紅 So envy not the youth but to enjoy the colors of sunset.
1 歡 means pleasure and to the youth, an adventure is a pleasure.
2 “comfort” is not in the original but refers to it. Other words such as “safety”, can be used to describe old dreams that can contrast with the first line.
4 “youth” literally is the “green of spring” and “fading reds of sunset” to infer the glorious days of the aged.
Saturday, February 11, 2023
This was started while I was doodling with a ballpoint pen but was able to do a complete rewrite two days later while jogging…
1 枝上鳳凰百鳥朝 Phoenix on the branch and a hundred birds came paying homage,
2 白雲生處鶴逍遙 Where white clouds are born, cranes flying in carefreeness.
3 瑤池莫羨仙界慕 Envy not the Jasper pool nor the fairy realm,
4 各自天規各寂寥 For each has its own rules and each a place of loneliness.
1 The phoenix is the queen of birds and symbolizes the empress. 百鳥朝鳳 is a common motif in Chinese paintings.
2 White cranes symbolizes longevity and is associated with immortality. In Chinese art, they are often depicted as denizens of fairy places, usually soaring in high mountainous areas shrouded by mists and fog.
3 The Jasper Pool is a fairy pool in the abode of the Queen Mother of the West. It is believed to be located in the Kunlun mountains.
4 There are two kinds of “fairies”, the celestial and the earth types. The celestial ones are forbidden to descend into the mortal world in private. In doing so, they are punished severely. Some examples,
The second line came to me last night as I got up from bed. Later, no matter how much I tried, I could not continue. Even when next morning came as I wrote it with a brush… During my jog, no progress was made until I made it as the second line. In the second round of the jog, did the words, 斛珠淚 inspired a complete rewrite.
1 急飛白雪來候駕 White snowflakes came scurrying to wait upon the gracious presence,
2 枝上紅梅仍未芽 But the red plum blossoms on the bough has yet to bud.
3 君恩更深斛珠淚 Deep may imperial love be but in the end, tears on a bushel of pearls,
4 夜寒伴月秉筆下 Under my brush is the cold night air accompanying the moon.
3 The keywords of this poem is the last three characters. See the last comment of 天無白雲青於藍
4 Since 梅妃 has such strong independence, I think she would be spending time composing a poem or painting a cold moonlit scene rather than moping away.
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Another mental exercise while jogging away…
欲踏高處脱平凡 In wanting to step onto the high mountain top and escape from the norm,
逢路崎嶇恐莫難 Upon each treacherous path to be trodden, fear only those that look easy.
飛騰負恩終報應 Karma awaits in the end when forgetting those who helped you soar,
天理遲早必旋還 Whether be early or late, Heaven’s law will cycled back to thee.
Friday, February 17, 2023
While doodling with the brush in absent mindedness.
1 鶴飛樓靜畫壁空 The crane had flown; the tower is silent and emptiness is the mural wall,
2 醉時雲客馬遊龍 In drunkenness, I see throngs of transient guests, thick as clouds await.
3 烟盡霧散秋夜晚 Deep into the autumn night when fog and mists are no more,
4 廣寒冷笑醒舊夢 Awakened by icy sneers of the Vast Frigidity are dreams of yore.
1 The immortal Tze An, 子安 in guise of a shabbily dressed person came to beg for some wine from keeper. The owner being a kindhearted person did not look down on the disguised immortal and treated him to some wine and personally served him. This went on for quite a while and the owner did not show any stinginess at all. One day, after his drink, the immortal took an orange peel and painted a yellow crane on the wall and told him whenever he clapped his hands, the crane will come to life and perform a dance before return to the wall as a painting. For ten years, the place was thronged with guests to spectacle the miracle. Then one day, Tze An appeared and the owner thanked him profusely but the immortal replied that this was for the repayment of generosity. He then brought out a flute and played a melody. Auspicious clouds descended and the painted crane flew down where upon the immortal made it his mount and flew away.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Crane_Tower
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/18/2/3/n10111847.htm
2 Short for 車如流水，馬如遊龍 – Chariots surging like flowing waters and lines of horses writhing like sinewy dragons, to mean very crowded, hustling and bustling in splendor. This came from a line spoken by Empress Ma on seeing her relatives had grown so sumptuous in their lifestyles when she visited them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Ma_(Han_dynasty)
3 In the autumn years of one’s life when follies of youth had dissipated.
4 The lunar palace is known as Vast Frigidity. The term is used to denote the loneliness and coldness of the moon.
Sunday, February 19, 2023
2 枉費銀光殷勤敬 Silvery light generously offered in utmost care, but a wasted.
3 忽傳愁曲遠簫送 When suddenly, a soulful melody came wafting from a faraway flute,
4 散入矇矓往日景 Dispersing into the scenes of bygone days in my subconscious.
5 多年隔別秋未到 Many a year since I had left and autumn has yet to approach,
6 一刻歸還春已醒 But the moment of return, spring awoke.
7 當時萬象歎莫識 It was then, sighing at the myriad sights, nary a thing recognized,
8 前世土生今異情 A native-born from a previous life, now a new feeling of foreignness.
2 The beautiful moonlight is thoroughly wasted on sleeping people.
4 矇矓 means hazy, indiscernible images perceived by the eye or consciousness. I refrain from using the yogic term, “unmani” to mean the state between the conscious and the subconscious or the scientific term, hypnagogia.
5 Has not reached the autumn years of life, implying that the days of youth was spent away from home.
6 Inspired on seeing that the majority of waiting families at the airport were so young looking.
7 Felt like a tourist coming out from customs area’s glass sliding door and into the public waiting area. No homecoming welcome.
8 Poetic exaggeration, so long ago that it was like another lifetime.
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Another jogging inspiration...
1 少年心野尋世歡 The ambitious heart of the young would seek adventures of the world,2 老時膽細覓舊夢 But the cautious aged would find comfort in dreams of old.
3 人性如此何逆有 Is this not the norm of human nature?
4 莫妒青春享夕紅 So envy not the youth but to enjoy the colors of sunset.
1 歡 means pleasure and to the youth, an adventure is a pleasure.
2 “comfort” is not in the original but refers to it. Other words such as “safety”, can be used to describe old dreams that can contrast with the first line.
4 “youth” literally is the “green of spring” and “fading reds of sunset” to infer the glorious days of the aged.
Saturday, February 11, 2023
This was started while I was doodling with a ballpoint pen but was able to do a complete rewrite two days later while jogging…
1 枝上鳳凰百鳥朝 Phoenix on the branch and a hundred birds came paying homage,
2 白雲生處鶴逍遙 Where white clouds are born, cranes flying in carefreeness.
3 瑤池莫羨仙界慕 Envy not the Jasper pool nor the fairy realm,
4 各自天規各寂寥 For each has its own rules and each a place of loneliness.
1 The phoenix is the queen of birds and symbolizes the empress. 百鳥朝鳳 is a common motif in Chinese paintings.
2 White cranes symbolizes longevity and is associated with immortality. In Chinese art, they are often depicted as denizens of fairy places, usually soaring in high mountainous areas shrouded by mists and fog.
3 The Jasper Pool is a fairy pool in the abode of the Queen Mother of the West. It is believed to be located in the Kunlun mountains.
4 There are two kinds of “fairies”, the celestial and the earth types. The celestial ones are forbidden to descend into the mortal world in private. In doing so, they are punished severely. Some examples,
織女, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhin%C3%BC
瑤姬, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaoji
華山聖母, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huayue_Sanniang
瑤姬, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaoji
華山聖母, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huayue_Sanniang
The logic of the last two makes no sense or just being how gods can be so hypocritical!
Monday, February 13, 2023
Monday, February 13, 2023
1 急飛白雪來候駕 White snowflakes came scurrying to wait upon the gracious presence,
2 枝上紅梅仍未芽 But the red plum blossoms on the bough has yet to bud.
3 君恩更深斛珠淚 Deep may imperial love be but in the end, tears on a bushel of pearls,
4 夜寒伴月秉筆下 Under my brush is the cold night air accompanying the moon.
3 The keywords of this poem is the last three characters. See the last comment of 天無白雲青於藍
4 Since 梅妃 has such strong independence, I think she would be spending time composing a poem or painting a cold moonlit scene rather than moping away.
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Another mental exercise while jogging away…
欲踏高處脱平凡 In wanting to step onto the high mountain top and escape from the norm,
逢路崎嶇恐莫難 Upon each treacherous path to be trodden, fear only those that look easy.
飛騰負恩終報應 Karma awaits in the end when forgetting those who helped you soar,
天理遲早必旋還 Whether be early or late, Heaven’s law will cycled back to thee.
Friday, February 17, 2023
1 鶴飛樓靜畫壁空 The crane had flown; the tower is silent and emptiness is the mural wall,
2 醉時雲客馬遊龍 In drunkenness, I see throngs of transient guests, thick as clouds await.
3 烟盡霧散秋夜晚 Deep into the autumn night when fog and mists are no more,
4 廣寒冷笑醒舊夢 Awakened by icy sneers of the Vast Frigidity are dreams of yore.
1 The immortal Tze An, 子安 in guise of a shabbily dressed person came to beg for some wine from keeper. The owner being a kindhearted person did not look down on the disguised immortal and treated him to some wine and personally served him. This went on for quite a while and the owner did not show any stinginess at all. One day, after his drink, the immortal took an orange peel and painted a yellow crane on the wall and told him whenever he clapped his hands, the crane will come to life and perform a dance before return to the wall as a painting. For ten years, the place was thronged with guests to spectacle the miracle. Then one day, Tze An appeared and the owner thanked him profusely but the immortal replied that this was for the repayment of generosity. He then brought out a flute and played a melody. Auspicious clouds descended and the painted crane flew down where upon the immortal made it his mount and flew away.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Crane_Tower
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/18/2/3/n10111847.htm
2 Short for 車如流水，馬如遊龍 – Chariots surging like flowing waters and lines of horses writhing like sinewy dragons, to mean very crowded, hustling and bustling in splendor. This came from a line spoken by Empress Ma on seeing her relatives had grown so sumptuous in their lifestyles when she visited them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Ma_(Han_dynasty)
3 In the autumn years of one’s life when follies of youth had dissipated.
4 The lunar palace is known as Vast Frigidity. The term is used to denote the loneliness and coldness of the moon.
Sunday, February 19, 2023
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