Twilight

Twilight at the Alligator Park

1 湖水漸銀夕陽狠 Heartless is the setting sun as the lake is slowing turning silvery,
2 桃花凋落更愁人 Sadder still when peach blossoms withered and fell.
3 茶代酒絕嫦娥冷 Tea is no substitute for wine - for the moon seemed so frigid,
4 依舊寒染照紅塵 As always, shining and tainting the mortal realm in coldness.

1 The lake waters are dark in the day but as evening, approaches, it turns silvery, a metaphor for one’s black hair turning white. 

2 These first two lines speak of fading youth into old age.

3 絕 and 盡 share the basic meaning of "no more, terminal". 絕 carries the notion of an external force to cause whatever to stop or no longer in existence. 盡 on the other hand is done by its own volition. In this context, health reason is the external cause. Tea is not strong enough to warm the body and inebriate. 嫦娥 is the Goddess of the moon and because the poet is no longer young, he felt that she is shunning him.

4 This line infers inebriation befuddles people to think the moon can be loving. 染 is used because the moonlight is always cold and indifferent just like its mistress, being frigid. All the three meanings of frigid can be applied. “red dust” Buddhist term for the mundane world.

Sunday, July 17, 2022