Breadth Of Life Poem by Yiyan Han
Breadth Of Life
(1)
God is fair
Each life has only one lifetime
And has only one chance
For it to reveal
Life has a limited length
Yet the merciful God
Let each life
Can have an unlimited breadth
(2)
Some notorious lives
Cause great sufferings to human beings
Worshipping these evil spirits
Makes one's own life shameful
In the spiritual world
Only those lives that ignite human wisdom
Make life be meaningful
The breadth of such life is limitless
(3)
One's life can't be recycled
And all lives are equal and precious
Disregarding other lives
Actually is a self disrespect
All lives have equal rights
Respecting this right is a self respect
Some lives are infamous in history
For they deprived other's human rights
(4)
It's the breadth of life, not the length
That measures the meaning of life
The value of a life isn't counted by
How many breaths taken but that taken away
Many broad lives are short
Yet it's these great lives
That are the real soul of all humanity
And light up the way for future
(5)
It's sad to see the Stockholm syndrome suffers
Yet the saddest to see some unaware of their illness
The more such lives, and the longer they have this disease
The more the whole society will suffer
Self entertaining lives can be joyful
But that can really bring mankind happiness
Are those compassionate and thoughtful lives, and those
Who worry about the humanity before themselves
(NB. I'm aware of and appreciate the fact that someone kindly translated my poem into English, shortly after it's published on a Chinese web site, but I prefer my own English version.)
By Yiyan Han(c)
2017-12-16
A poem I wrote back in 1982, 'State Of 20th Century Man', asks questions directly relating to some of these ideals and issues, but below the surface the questions are deep. The poem is writing on several levels of consciousness, it requires several readings, meditation on some lines, to go beneath the surface.
The obvious has less value, awareness, this is a society of games, distractions, few want to think, face reality, develop mind and soul into understanding. Perhaps this requires too much effort, for a pleasure seeking release from work society, but the present world reality unsettles and scares too many with anxiety, when they stop to think.
It's the breadth of life, not the length That measures the meaning of life Insightful lines, from a constellation of others. Best wishes and a Happy New Year, Paul
A marvelous and powerful poem. Wonderful thoughts to ponder about.
P2 Straw Lives Flickering Lights Passing yes God gave a limited length life but potential for unlimited breath God is merciful please forgive me merciful God when I see pain suffering torment my own anger imperfections because I do not understand the intensity of suffering allowed so long Inspired by the poem 'Breadth Of Life' by the poet Yiyan Han. Dedicated to the poet Yiyan Han.
P1 Straw Lives Flickering Lights Passing it seems a lesson for the living not for brief flickering lights passing into lost death nights not lessons for brain impaired incapable of life understanding cruel circumstances understanding what perceptions do brain impaired perceive none if absolute impaired
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/1/2024 3:10:29 AM # 1.0.0.1119
I love the ideals of this poem, the aspiration and attainment of these ideals, should be humanities quest. 'God is fair Each life has only one lifetime' I could easily argue that God is not fair, that babies are born in poverty and health issues that cannot be healed. The advantages of born with silver spoon privilege's, versus plastic spoon limitations, without even addressing first and third world issues is obvious.