Long time no see (translation date 19 Nov 2012)

So long since we parted, beholding each other now is like a dream, a vision

Smiling with tears in my eyes, looking at my loved one

Lovely phrases inflecting each word like a strand of pearls

My unrefined thank you, without semblance of literature

Both in America, but difficult to see each other

Together now, already several autumns have passed

Men have lived, since ancient times, with sadness at leaving

Of most importance this day: seize the remaining sun 

I have two younger sisters. One named Chuen and one named Tong. Tong sent me a photo of Chuen. Tong was in San Diego at her daughter's house and she sent the photo from her daughter's. This past April, Chuen was in New Zealand and invited me to visit so us four sisters could get together. My sons couldn't agree for me to go so I didn't go. Tong and my other sister and their husbands went to New Zealand to visit Chuen and they stayed for a month. At the end of the month, while saying goodbye, they didn't want to part so they held each other and cried as if it was a death--perhaps this would be the last time they'd see each other. Tong and her husband went back to Hong Kong. After they went home, they came to United States to visit. They visited their daughter in San Diego. I went to San Diego to meet them. I celebrated my 70th birthday this year and Tong's husband wrote a poem. I wrote two poems in reply, to thank them for the poem and celebration. I'm looking at this photo of my sister. I have not seen her for 48 years. Since we parted, she has never sent me any picture of herself.

7th day of 7th month

Sky wide red and gun smoke fire full of dust of war

Silver river must be windy and thundering 

Bird bridge broken by the rough strong waves

Cow-girl, how can they cross to meet?

It is true: even a smart woman cannot feed without food
Several times, people's cooking steam is cut off
Meeting, they do not talk about how sorrowful their separation
First thing, she asks Cowboy for money to buy rice

Through history, a lot of people wrote poems about the Cowboy and Weaving-girl, but seldom about the hardships that real people suffer. Eisenhower had gone up to Normandy to fight the Germans that year. I wrote of few poems on this 7th day of 7th month. 

Notes:
- In Chinese folklore, the Milky Way is called Silver River, with Cowboy and Weaving-girl stars on each side. Every year on 7th day of the 7th month, they meet. Birds fly together to form a bridge so the girl and boy can cross the river.
- The most famous writer from my dad's region wrote a poem saying not to pity the cow-boy and loom-girl for only meeting once a year, for if you count from the beginning of time, they have met thousands of times already.
- chao fu nan wei wu mi zi suei = smart woman hard to without rice cook meal

High lights in dark days

To thank Mrs. Fu who wrote me a poem in Chicago where we met, and after knowing each other a short while, she had to leave. I appreciate her, treasure our friendship, and reverently wrote this poem as a remembrance.

Glad we met,
Sorry to leave.
Two white-haired friends, made in the dusk years of life.

Today we're together,
Tomorrow we'll depart.
On opposite ends of the earth, our friendship lasts long.


Mid-autumn festival
near the end of WWII

A horrible year, still here come the holidays
Time marches on just as nature orders
Most everything becomes broken into pieces
Sad and cold, only the moon is full and whole

My aunt returns to Taipei

Trans-Pacific flight with older brother,

cross Hebing street on foot with younger niece.

The house numbers skip from 21 to 25,

number 23 a phantom omission.

The only thing left of the old house is memories.

She looks in wonder,

she looks of mild regret.

Is this how 41 years feel:

a parking lot paved over a bygone back yard

hedged with still fragrant jasmine?