Ying & Yang (Double Senryu - Two Languages)

by Steven Beesley   Aug 23, 2005


Intro: Ying Yang in China is about balance in life as well as the hereafter. It means good with bad, male and female, opposites, heaven and hell. One cannot be without the other, there must be a balance of black and white, day with night. In Cantonese, a Chinese dialect of southern coastal China it would be pronounced "Yum-Yeung." You may have seen it in symbolic form of a circle with two halves swirling around each other, one black and one white.

Ying & Yang:

The Ying and the Yang
Like the east meeting the west
We all need balance

In Cantonese:

Yum Yeung you hip til
Tung yau ho, sai yick doo ho
Sung wut you hip til

Senryu:
An unrhymed verse of Japanese origin having 3 lines, with a 5-7-5 syllable count.

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Latest Comments

  • 19 years ago

    by Amanda Bee

    Great poem, Steven. I love the style and you nailed it:) I like how you put in two languages as well. Outstanding!

  • 19 years ago

    by Steven Beesley

    Thanks Angela!

    I studied Tae Kwan Do (Korean) as well as Karate (Japanese) when I was much younger and when the joints did not need oiling!

    Hugs,

    Steve

  • 19 years ago

    by Angie

    Very well done, love this piece. I have studied a Korean martial art called Hapkido, learned about ying yang and being well balanced. Great job Steve.

    Smiles, Hugs and Love, Angela

    I love all the styles that you have been writing in. You're quite talented.