Tang Yin: Worldly Affairs Are Like A Short Sail On A Boat 唐寅 世事如舟挂短蓬 或移西岸或移東 Poem by Frank Yue

An Admonitory Poem:
"Worldly affairs are like a short sail on a boat"
-by TANG YIN (Ming dynasty)
-Translated by Frank C Yue

Worldly affairs are like a short sail on a boat;
To the west coast or the east coast it may well float.
After waning, the Moon then shows up full and round;
After the south winds, those from the north may be found.
One's good fortune wouldn't last a thousand days in a year;
Towards late Spring, blooming flowers must fall with their own tears!
Gossips at the door -to be tolerant it's best;
Half-demented, half-hard-of-hearing -then you're blest!



(2013.10.)


警世詩　　明‧唐寅(伯虎)

世事如舟挂短蓬， 或移西岸或移東。
幾回缺月還圓月， 數陣南風又北風。
歲久人無千日好， 春深花有幾時紅。
是非入耳君須忍， 半事癡呆半作聾。