Half & Half

Interesting poem i just came across. Sort of a guideline for mid life. The Half & Half Song was written by Li Mi a 16 century Chinese poet.It is translated by Lin Yutang, and included in The Importance of Living a book Yutang wrote in 1937, which i read some years ago and must re read, as it is a wonderful entertaining polemic on our 100% over stressed lifestyles. 

Reminiscent of Kiplings 'If' written for a young man's benefit, the Half & Half is a mid life code of conduct for presumably granting you a second half, wiser lived. With exception of the 3rd verse which i did a double take on , with his reference to dresses, servants & choice of wives. I suppose you have to read it in the historical context of 16 Century China but still, I do appreciate smart women, no matter what the year. It takes a bit of unraveling to get where he is coming from. It's not really about is the glass half full or half empty? but i couldn't resist the pic 

Ok here it is:

The Half & Half Song 

By far the greater half have i seen through

This floating life - Ah,there's a magic word -

This 'half' - so rich in implications.

It bids us taste the joy of more than we

Can ever own. Halfway in life is a man's

Best state, when slackened pace allows him ease

A wide world lies halfway 'twixt heaven and earth;

To live halfway between the town and land,

have farms halfway between the stream and hills;

be half-a-scholar, and half- a-squire, and half

In business;half as gentry live,

And have a house that's half genteel,half plain,

Half elegantly furnished and half bare;

Dresses and gowns that are half old, half new,

And food half epicure's,half simple fare;

Have servants not too clever,nor too dull:

A wife who's not too simple,nor too smart.

So then,at heart, i feel i'm half a Buddha

And almost half a Taoist fairy blest.

One half myself to Father Heaven i

Return; the other half to children leave -

Half thinking how for my posterity

To plan and provide, and yet half minding how

To answer God when the body's laid to rest.

He is most wisely drunk who is half drunk;

And flowers in half-bloom look their prettiest;

As boats at half-sail sail the steadiest,

And horses held at half-slack reins trot best.

Who half too much has, adds anxiety,

But half too little,adds possession's zest.

Since life's of sweet and bitter compounded,

Who tastes but half is wise and cleverest.

Li Mi