Sunday, June 29, 2014

Parting Words

Parting Gift Poem

Briefly get-together, depart; entrust with my bayroot-self,
In a flash, time feels more precious.
A pocket full of pretty lines makes for melodious singing,
Attentive invitations to dine shows me your true core affection.


On the anniversary of the avoided subject* of Fu Muzeng

Separated from neighbor, in view of each other, by old door and wall.**
One cannot forget how he carried himself, his voice, his appearance.
Looking back to Fu Garden, quite somber and still.
A grove of coconut trees, cool green shade.*** †


*death: President of the Taiwan National University, lived nearby. One day, he went to the senate for inquiry. One of the senators was rude and Mr. Fu had a stroke and died. When he was president, there were lots of accomplishments made against objections and obstacles
**his house was separated from our house only by a street
***Chinese metaphor: the blessings of ancestors or parents to children, or teacher to student, is a cool green shade from large trees.
present students and faculty benefited from him.

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