LOVE Poem: Interpreting the ‘Loves’, by Douglas Colston

To the Chinese,
‘passion’ (熱情 [rèqíng])
is a form of enthusiasm
that may be associated with being
enthusiastic,
warm,
ardent
and animated –
but it is different
from Ἔρως (Érōs [‘God of Love’ {爱神 (àishén)}]) …
and to the Ancient Greeks,
ἔρως (éros) described –
variously –
love and desire
(usually of a romantic, sexual and personal nature),
physical or non-physical attraction,
the object of love or desire,
passionate joy
and even a funeral wreath
(at Nicaea).

In contrast,
the Chinese
consider ‘friendship’ (友誼 [yǒuyì])
to be the same
as φίλῐᾰ (philia[友谊]),
but,
if one happened
to be speaking in Ancient Greek,
φῐλῐ́ᾱ had various meanings,
including:
friendship;
love;
affection;
fondness;
kindness;
sexual love;
and the natural force
responsible for uniting
discordant elements
and movements.

‘Flirtation’ (調情 [tiáoqíng]),
in Chinese,
can be considered –
by some –
to involve philandering
and it might include play,
teasing,
having a good time,
socializing,
dalliances,
disrespect,
deliberation
and the like
(玩 [wán {ludus}]),
but it is not all fun and games …
ludus,
as it happens,
is a Latin term
that may communicate ‘school’,
‘game’,
‘sport’,
‘play’,
‘public spectacle’,
‘stage plays’
or ‘fun’.

To the Chinese,
‘selflessness’ (無私 [wúsī])
could be described
as a form of disinterest
and in that regard,
it is quite dissimilar from loving,
treasuring,
valuing,
fondness,
begrudging,
reluctance,
ease,
benevolence,
fondness,
affection,
wanting
or even hiding …
the definition
of the accepted term for ἀγάπη (agápē [爱 {ài}]).

Depending on how deep into Antiquity one enquires,
ἀγάπη –
to an Ancient Greek –
may simply describe love,
affection
or esteem …
in the more recent ancient past,
some believe the term was altered
by Christianity
to describe the love
between God and humanity,
good will
and benevolence.

Some Chinese
read ‘commitment’ (承諾 [chéngnuò])
to be synonymous
with promises,
pledges,
vows
and undertakings –
that is definitely a thing,
objective
and material …
which are the definitions
of the typical substitute for πρᾶγμα (prâgma [事物 {shìwù}]).

To the Ancient Greeks,
however,
πρᾶγμα was applied variously
to deeds,
acts,
facts,
occurrences,
concrete reality,
creatures,
matters of consequence or importance
and troubles and annoyances.

In Chinese,
‘selfcare’ might be described
as self-conscious or self-aware protection,
nurturance,
care
or nursing (自我護理 [zìwǒhùlǐ]) –
whether it is always selfish,
as is the case
for the usual substitute of φιλαυτία (philautía [自私 {zìsī}]),
is debatable …
in Ancient Greek,
φιλαυτία means ‘self-love’
or ‘self-regard’.

To the Chinese,
‘familial love’ (亲情 [qīnqíng])
and affection
involves relatives and family members
(and occasionally marriages) –
and,
undoubtedly,
feelings,
emotions
and relationships …
the definition
of the typical translation of στοργή (storgḗ [感情 {gǎnqíng}]).

The Ancient Greeks,
however,
generally considered στοργή
to describe the love and affection
of parents and children …
rarely was the term applied
to a sexualized ‘love’.

Finally,
the Chinese consider ‘obsession’ (痴迷 [chīmí])
to involve infatuation …
and it can involve mania,
irritability,
impatience
and agitation –
which is in accord
with the usual translation of μανία (maníā [狂躁 { kuángzào}]),
but μανία was really about madness,
frenzies,
enthusiasm
(on occasions),
insane desires
and compulsions
(to the Ancient Greeks at any rate).