年少輕狂時喜歡讀詩。長大之後，已經很久很久沒有被詩感動過。一早讀到一篇 David Romano 寫的 “When Tomorrow Starts Without Me” (“當明天沒有我時”)，尤其是在生命中第一個沒有母親的母親節的早晨，讀到這篇長詩，感動!

詩很長，讀到最後幾句，彷彿聽到母親在對我說:
 

So when tomorrow starts without me, 因此當明日伊始而我已不在時，

Don’t think we’re far apart, 不要認為我們被遙遙隔離，

For every time you think of me, 因為每當你在思念我時，

I’m right here, in your heart. 我就在這裡，就在你心中。

翻譯從來不是件容易事，詩的翻譯尤其如此。但為了方便非英語的讀者，我勉力為之。我仍建議能閱讀英文的讀者，至少對照的讀。

 “When Tomorrow Starts Without Me”  by David Romano

So when tomorrow starts without me,  當明日伊始而我已去，

And I’m not here to see, 無法在此見到你，

If the sun should rise and find your eyes 若初昇旭日見你雙眼

All filled with tears with me; 閃爍著為我的淚珠；

I wish so much you wouldn’t cry 我願你不要再哭泣

The way you did today, 像今日如此悲戚，

While thinking of the many things, 回憶往日諸多事，

We didn’t get to say. 我們未曾說出口。

I know how much you love me,　我知你愛我多深，

As much as I love you, 我也愛你有多深，

And each time you think of me, 每當你想到我 ，

I know you’ll miss me too; 我知道你懷念不捨；

But when tomorrow starts without me, 但當明日伊始而我已去，

Please try to understand, 願你懂得，那是因為

That an angel came and called my name, 有個天使前來呼喚我名，

And took me by the hand, 她執起我手，告訴我

And said my place was ready, 彼處已為我備妥，

In heaven far above 但在那遙遠的天鄉

And that I have to leave behind 我必需放下

All those I dearly love 所有我的執愛。

But as I turned to walk away, 但當我要轉身離去時，

A tear fell from my eye 淚水滑落我的面頰

For all my life, I’d always thought, 一直以來我總想，

I didn’t want to die. 我不要死去。

I had so much to live for,  有這麼多人值得我為之生，

So much left yet to do, 有這麼多事我尚未完成，

It seemed almost impossible, 無法想像

That I was leaving you. 我要如何棄你而去。

I thought of all the yesterdays, 我想到所有過往的時光，

The good ones and the bad, 不論喜樂或痛苦，

The thought of all the love we shared, 我們曾分享過的喜悅，

And all the fun we had. 以及我們共同歡笑的日子。

If I could relive yesterday, 如果時光可以倒流，

Just even for a while, 即使只是短暫片刻，

I’d say good-bye and kiss you 我將親吻你，向你告別

And maybe see you smile. 也許我會看到你的笑顏。

But then I fully realized 但我深知

That this could never be, 這一切已不可能，

For emptiness and memories, 因為空虛與回憶，

Would take the place for me. 將取代我的位置。

And when I thought of worldly things 當我憶及塵世的事物

I might miss come tomorrow, 我會為明日擔憂

I thought of you, and when I did 當我想到你

My heart was filled with sorrow. 我滿懷哀痛。

But when I walked through heaven’s gates 但當我跨過天堂的門檻

I felt so much at home 我真正感到回家的喜樂

When God look down and smiled at me, 當天主俯視對我微笑時，

From His great golden throne, 坐在金色寶座上的

He said, “This is eternity, 祂說，「這就是永生，

And all I’ve promised you. 我曾一再向你許諾過的。

Today your life on earth is past 現在你的塵世生命已過去

But here it starts anew 但這是個嶄新的開始。

I promise no tomorrow, 我不向你許諾明日，

But today will always last, 但今日將是永恆，

And since each day’s the same way, 因為每一日都是永恆，

There’s no longing for the past. 你無需再懷念往日。

You have been so faithful, 你一直都信德堅定，

So trusting and so true. 如此的信賴與真誠。

Though there were times 雖然有時

You did some things 你做了一些

You knew you shouldn’t do. 你知道不該做的事。

But you have been forgiven 但你已被寬恕

And now at last you’re free. 現在你終於得到了解脫。

So won’t you come and take my hand 所以現在你何不牽著我的手

And share my life with me? 共享我的生命?」

So when tomorrow starts without me, 因此當明日伊始而我已不在時，

Don’t think we’re far apart, 不要認為我們被遙遙隔離，

For every time you think of me, 因為每當你在思念我時，

I’m right here, in your heart. 我就在這裡，就在你心中。