The distant wind still arrives The incessant rain still spreads its gloom For how many more years, in the heavens, the Ngâu celestial couple shall stop shedding tears because of autumn?
Love is an endless refrain of happiness and sorrow, of warm affection and faded feelings, just like changes in nature and the four seasons that come and go. Eventually, everything becomes a tale of the past, of bygone times. Romance, too, cannot escape this eternal law.
“Watching autumn depart Sorrow rises in sunlight And leaves scatter outside the window Listening to one’s name enter oblivion As months and days perish in a gold autumn...
Watching those times when autumn departs, empty hands embrace regrets Listening to chilled wind in the night, at age thirty-something, melancholy fills one’s eyes Loving someone, then feeling cold all alone.
Cool autumn breeze has returned Purple evening imbued sidewalks And the breeze kissed long tresses, then autumn flew away.
In the golden sunlight this late afternoon, I feel sadness rising The weekend’s sky is painted with clouds My forlorn arms have forgotten the way Walking you home in the softly lingering sunlight.
Autumns have come and gone many a time Passing by the sunlit park this late afternoon Our love story from long ago Chronicled by forlorn autumn evenings And this autumn, our dream has withered.”
As time goes by, all beauty and youthfulness fade away. Looking in the mirror one day and seeing a few strands of gray hair, we suddenly realize the impermanence of physical existence. We will begin to search for something lasting and thus embark on our spiritual journey to find our true selves.
“Looking into the mirror today A few strands of hair turning gray Alas, life’s winter has arrived Why couldn’t spring one moment delay! In a nearby garden, children are playing Startled, I turn my gaze yonder Peaceful still is the small chamber But spring’s light is quietly fading. O traveler! O traveler! O traveler, feel you not the melancholy? It seems you’re hurrying so Carrying few possessions A lonely silhouette flows o'er the bridge. The temple bell’s rapid pealing On the far horizon, rain’s quick approaching Wistfully the traveler asks: Do I know my true self yet?”
Autumn is the poet’s season because autumn clouds are lovely, autumn sunlight is golden, and the autumn spirit is deep. Yet when the beauty of autumn is shrouded by a dismal space, not only is the autumn sky gloomy, but the surrounding scenery is also imbued with melancholy. As if feeling sympathy for those who are separated, each gentle drop of autumn rain continues to fall.
“On the veranda, the autumn rain is gently falling The somber sky is quiet, desolate clouds cease floating Listening to the wind drifting vaguely in the autumn rain Who is sobbing, who is lamenting!
A few fledglings chirp on the branch as though telling the blue sky: Who is sobbing about life? Tears quickly cascade The world is in immense sorrow.
One hopes clouds will scatter, bringing back the cool gentle breeze Clouds shall open up to the azure sky Perhaps there’s no such happiness The rain’s still falling How many more incarnations until this melancholy subsides?
The distant wind still arrives The incessant rain still spreads its gloom For how many more years, in the heavens, the Ngâu celestial couple shall stop shedding tears because of autumn?”
There is a source of true peace and happiness that, once we discover it, all our worldly possessions suddenly lose their luster. We will find our love and joy expanding and wish to share them with all.
“Friendly doors open wide Come and share the peace and love you will find inside
Share the joy Let the sun comfort you You might never want to leave when it’s time to go Share the joy Mountains rise, mountains fall You have nothing more to prove, you have climbed them all Now you're here
All the lovely songs you will hear, these we all hold dear At the same time All the grandest things we possess, these we value less So many small things can bring happiness Love is in all things
Share the joy Let the sun comfort you You might never want to leave when it’s time to go Share the joy Mountains rise, mountains fall You have nothing more to prove, you have climbed them all Now you're here May you stay and share the joy”
