Drink afar, drink at hand

1977 December 8
My sister and her husband's 40th anniversary. I wrote two poems to celebrate. 

Holding a platter, respecting each other for forty autumns
Together you've tasted the sweet and bitter, shared joy and sorrow
Thankful that God in heaven watches over with favor
Your children's good names are a late golden harvest

Across the ocean I gladly hear of this ruby anniversary
From afar, congratulations to a pair of stars
I cannot toast you with this cup of champagne in person 
Waiting for the day when we'll open another bottle

- "Holding a tray of food at eyebrow height [and giving it to her husband]" is an expression meaning a husband and wife that treat each other like guests, i.e. respectfully, courteously. The story goes that a husband and wife were married and respected each other greatly. The husband's business failed and he lost all his status. But the wife still served her husband just as well as before. 

Went to a club to hear people sing. After listening, I wrote this.

Cross the river, plum trees and willows announce the coming spring
Holding a wine glass while poeting, what happiness, ha!
Must be singing of some grand ambition unfulfilled
Ask the flowers, "for whom do you bloom?"*

*lyrics of the song went "Why do the flowers bloom?"

- ancient poem goes: with one hand drink and with the other write poems, because our life is short