Regrets?

The first line was inspired by this fountain in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, Canada.

1 六月柳枝泉水噴 Willow boughs in June and fountains are spewing,
2 幽林曲徑見無人 Crooked paths through the forest where no one goes.
3 池唐蓮花仍未醒 In the ponds, where lotus blossoms had not wakened,
4 松鼠果摘白鷺群 Squirrels are picking pine nuts while white herons flocked.

5 兩袖清風百忌休 Two sleeves billowing in the wind - a hundred angst are laid to rest,
6 一生逍遙半世恨 An entire life in carefreeness but half in regret.
7 星月何慮雲烟蔽 Would the stars and the moon be worried by obscuring clouds?
8 杯盡莫怨向誰問 Then blame not in asking whom for more when the cup is empty!

5 Literally, “two sleeves [containing] fresh wind”. 清 also means pure and 風, style/custom/manner. Said of an upright incorruptible official, taking no bride and servicing justice to the people. In the old days, Chinese sleeves are long and wide where small pockets are used to hold loose change etc. Hence, when empty, they billow easily in the wind. Nothing to worry about when one leads a virtuous life.

7 Here the stars and the moon refers to upright people of various levels of incorruptibility. There is nothing to fear, for in the end, the truth will always shine through.

8 Now we know the reason in line 6 about their regrets. Because being so incorruptible, their lives will not be wealthy when their official career ends. Official salaries were not generous and hence many officials took brides – a delicate balance between idealism and being practical must be achieved. I suppose the Singapore Government had learnt well from Chinese history.

Monday, June 6, 2022