賀三姨母 *

她幼年甚為活潑靈利，
也十分尊敬長輩鄰居，
遵守道德倫理。

及長甚為勇敢進取：
隻身遠行好幾千里，
追求知識教育。

同時代的鄉下閨女：
大都是足不出戶，
手不提筆。

.

在故都北平，
她遇到一位高校才俊。
二人相愛，
畢業結婚。

不久日寇打來，
二人遠走西北塞外，
為國家培育人才，
也繁育下一代。

勝利復員，
無法回轉家園。

國共戰敗，
再隨政府遷台。

為了子女的教育，
又隨他們遷居海外。

.

三個兒子，
三個理學博士。
三個女兒，
也都是碩學士。

孫子輩更是濟濟多士：
藝人、醫師及律師，
名校頂尖學子，
名企頂級執事。

他們都是
備受她的愛護培植。
他們也都
對她敬愛備至。

.

時光不停的前進。
她仍是精力過人。

對於道德及文明，
仍是提倡與關心。

對於腐敗及罪惡，
仍是憤怒與痛恨。

為見善報惡懲，
她保持耳聰目明。

為保健康無病，
她注意飲食運動。

.

老人家同民國同年誕生。
同顛沛、同興盛，
也同屆百齡。

今逢她的世紀華誕。
家人、親朋相聚，
同歡同慶。

願上天同我們同聲、
同祝她生日快樂，
長樂長生。

.

摘譯自英文原詩附後，
並請斧正。

原詩原訂於三姨華誕日朗誦，
不幸屆時老人忽感不適，
只得停止一切進程。

月有變轉圓缺，
天有風雨陰晴。
人事安能盡如所期？
世事何能盡符所訂？

.

              賀三姨母
   Happy Centenarian Birthday *

To my mother’s youngest sister
My dear Aunt Shing-Fae

She had been a vivacious girl,
yet always a real respecter
to her parents and elders,
also a strict observer
of those family ethics
and moral standards.
 
She had been a courageous girl,
struggled to be away from home,
traveled three thousand miles alone,
by way of mules, vessels and vehicles;
even had a lawsuit with her greedy uncle,
in order to pursue her education and freedom.
 
While most of her peers
of those country households
still with feet bound as lotus buds,
scarcely had they touched any book,
some even seldom dared, to step over
their chamber, court or outdoor thresholds.
 
.

At the old capital of her native nation
she met a brilliant college student,
fell in love, finished examinations,
got married also begot children,
moved to the faraway North-West,
engaged in the wartime education:

Endeavored to cultivate her country’s
wretched but generating generation,
meanwhile toke care of her own
rapidly developing descendants.
 
Endured the scarce resource
and the severe climate condition,
under the Japanese’s repeated
and barbarous air raid bombardments.
 

.
Continuingly moving and cultivating,
once followed her government to Taiwan.
For her children’s better education
at last she was here in US as an immigrant.

Three PhD’s for her three sons in sciences.
Three daughters got similar achievements.
Countless grand and great-grand scions,
they are mostly even more eminent:
 
State lawyer, stage performer,
specialist doctor, senior managers;
various class valedictorians,
famous high school and college students.
 
She loves them with all her heart.
They love her with all their affection.

 .

Time never slows its forward run.
The sun and moon never stop to turn.
Gradually her body is rather weakened
but her mind is still razor-sharply keen.

Still she cares about social stability,
pays attention to human civilization,
advocates justice and morality,
condemns crime and corruption.

In order to see the good get the rewards
and the bad get their punishments,
she keeps her eyes clearly watching,
keeps her ears cleverly open.
 
In order may jollily enjoy this joyful world,
No ache, no attack, also no ailment,
she keeps dieting and exercising,
keeps her heart kindly open.
 

She was born with her native nation
both a hundred years ago.
Together they suffer and prosper,
grow a hundred years old.

Today is her centenarian birthday,
a great day of friends and family.
 
May our Lord in heaven
graciously bless her,
and everybody here
gratefully wish her:
 
 (This loving and beloved,
healthy and lovely,
elderly lady --
rather young lady.)

Happy birthday.
Happy forever!

 
* Written to be recited on her birthday, at LA, CA, USA.