Reflections | How a classic poem by Chinese poet Wang Bo sums up my feelings over good friend’s death
Tang dynasty poet Wang Bo’s poem on friends separated is a bittersweet encapsulation of what I feel towards my recently departed pal
I am writing this with great sadness. A very good friend of mine died last week in Hong Kong. He was only 65.
He had been enjoying his retirement from the Hong Kong civil service, travelling overseas every other month, when he was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer two years ago.
Despite the devastating and totally unexpected diagnosis – he never smoked and led an active, healthy life – he remained sanguine about his condition and complied with all the treatments prescribed.
In the two years after his diagnosis, he still travelled and lived life to the fullest. It was only in the last few months that his condition suddenly deteriorated.
I had a video call with him two days before he passed. He could not speak, but he recognised me. I could not speak because I was in tears.
I had known him for close to 13 years. Both of us shared a wicked sense of humour, and we had many laughs over countless drinks and meals together.