Sleepless Night

Killing time on a slightly over two hour flight from Bangkok to Singapore.

1 一盞油燈牀前暗 Out of darkness is an oil lamp dimming from my bedside,
2 寂寞寒氣窗後臨 Loneliness and the cold come creeping in from the window.
3 夜闌鶯鳴去何處 The night is late and where did the cawing mockingbird go?
4 聲靜難眠香夢尋 ‘tis difficult to slumber in silence and dream of sweetness.

1 In ancient times, the side of the bed is place against a solid wall. Hence, “in front of the bed” does not mean “at the foot of the bed”. In the homes of the rich, the position of the bed is never placed in a direct view to the door. If unavoidable, a translucent silk screen is used to separate the line of sight. A window may face the bed directly. A small round table and chairs are usually placed between space especially if they are women quarters. These are used for intimate meetings or dinners with closest relatives, dinner between husband and wife etc. as women are frowned upon when the men are entertaining guests.

Monday, August 29, 2022