Seductions Of Paradise

It was a bright and sunny day on the mainland.  Upon entering Friendship Park, the views of the Catalina Islands were spectacular. The channel was filled with fog and inspired me to a new creation… However, the end result was not to be completed till a few weeks later due to lack of ideas.

1 昨日銀波微風皺 Yesterday, silvery waves were gently wrinkled by the breeze,
2 而今雲海凡塵候 But now, a sea of clouds as the mortal world awaits.
3 阻隔蓬山去路斷 For the way to the Immortal Isles are now cut off,
4 前後媚色人心誘 Seductive scenes of then and now tantalize the human heart through and through.

1 “Yesterday, the ocean was clear and waves reflected in silvery white by the sun”.

2 There are many meanings of 候 – to ask, to wait attentively, attend to, to inquire, to forecast etc. Some meanings such as “seasonal”, “a period of five days” can be eliminated. However, some like “waiting respectfully”, “border watch tower” or “station (noun)” make sense but the context eliminates some of them. It is up to the imagination of the reader to resolve in how they would like interpret the poem.

雲海 - a sea of clouds

海雲 - sea fog

4 Whether it the path to the Immortal Isles is clear or not, it will be always tantalizing.

Friday, March 25, 2022