唐寅 世事如舟挂短蓬 或移西岸或移東 Worldly affairs are like a short sail

            《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。



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 flow'rs 
                          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!