6月16日

半半歌
清 李密庵 ( 生卒年不詳 )

看破浮生半百，半生受用無邊；
半殘歲月儘悠閒，半裡乾坤開展。
半郭半鄉村舍，半山半水田園；
半耕半讀半寒廛，半士半民姻眷。
半雅半粗器具，半華半實庭軒；
衾裳半素半輕鮮，餚饌半豐半儉。
童僕半能半拙，妻子半樸半賢；
心情半佛半神仙，姓字半藏半顯。
一半還之天地，一半讓將人間；
半思後代與桑田，半想閻羅怎見。
飲酒半酣正好，花開半時偏妍；
帆張半扇免翻顛，馬放半韁穩便。
半少卻饒滋味，半多反厭糾纏；
自來苦樂半相參，會佔便宜只半。
──選自《誰最會享受人生》

June 16

"Half and Half" Song
Li Mi'an (Years unknown, Qing Dynasty)
English translation: Fo Guang Shan International Translation Center

Life at midpoint has its ups and downs,
    as the first half is greatly enriched;
Boundless leisure is still with the latter half,
    within it, the vastness yet to be reached.

Split is humanity dwelling in cities and countryside,
    the farming fields separated by mountains and water;
Divided is the time for plowing and studying,
    the kinship of intellectuals and illiterates.

Tools are categorized by grades of refinement and crudeness,
    gardens balanced by their aestheticism and practicality;
Dress is sorted out either as plain or flashy,
    some meals are simple while others are extravagant.

Some helpers are capable while others are inept,
    a wife can be witty and yet humble;
Half the mind is spiritual while the other materialistic,
    the name can be prestigious and yet obscure.

Half the realm is encompassed by the sky and earth,
    as the other half is dedicated to humankind;
Concern is equally given for betterment of the future,
    and the fulfillment of the present.

The ideal is to drink wine half sweet,
    flowers are most beautiful during mid-bloom;
A sail at half-mast prevents the boat from capsizing,
    a horse is better controlled with a half grip.

The half that is scarce fulfills the taste buds,
    while the half that is excessive repulses them;
Bitterness and sweetness have always blended well together,
    shrewd are the ones who take advantage of the good half.

── from Shei Zuihui Xiangshou Rensheng (Who Can Enjoy Life the Most)