Saturday, May 19, 2007

好了歌

Ok, this one is from 紅樓夢, or Dream of the Red Chamber, one of my favorite novels, quite possibly my favorite novel of all time. Lots of apologies, there's a rhyme scheme in this poem that that I just can't do.

Everyone knows that enlightenment is good, if only they could have fame, that would be enough.
Yet those ministers and generals, where are they now? In a lonely grave, disappearing into the grass.
Everyone knows that enlightenment is good, if only they could have silver and gold, that would be enough.
From dawn to dusk, they only worry that they don't have enough, yet by the time they're satisfied, they will have shut their eyes for good.
Everyone knows that enlightenment is good, only they can't forget their beautiful wife.
While you're alive, she says nothing but good, day in and day out, but when you're dead, she's gone with someone else.
Everyone knows that enlightenment is good, only they can't forget their children.
Since the beginning of time, there have been doting parents beyond count, yet a faithful son, I've yet to see.

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