We will Miss You!

 

My name is John Wu. I met Lin Sen when he came here from Hong Kong for treatment. I got to know him well and found out we are from the same city in China. We call each other 老乡 which means hometown boy. With the pain and suffering he was going through, he always showed me a positive side of him. When I talked to him, I did not feel that I was talking to a cancer patient. It’s more like talking to a good old friend. He was calm, wise and funny. He got this British sense of humor. I like him a lot. I would like to read him a poem today, from one hometown boy to another. His dear friend, Miss Yan Li from Washington D.C. recommended this poem. I will read it in English first and then in Chinese.

 

First, English version:

 

Sleeping at last, the trouble and tumult over,

Sleeping at last, the struggle and horror past,

Cold and white, out of sight of friend and of lover,

Sleeping at last.

 

No more a tired heart downcast or overcast,

No more pangs that wring or shifting fears that hover,

Sleeping at last in a dreamless sleep locked fast.

 

Fast asleep. Singing birds in their leafy cover

Cannot wake him, nor shake him the gusty blast.

Under the purple thyme and the purple clover

Sleeping at last.

 

by Christina Georgina Rossetti

 

Next, Chinese version:

 

我们的好朋友来自首都华盛顿的李艳小姐把这首英文诗翻译成了中文诗。现在我就读一遍这首中文的诗：

 

终于睡了，烦恼与喧嚣都已过去

终于睡了，挣扎与恐惧也已远去

冰冷苍白的世界里，亲友举目不见

终于睡了

 

一颗疲倦的心不再沮丧忧愁

再不用受煎熬，也无需提心吊胆

终于睡了，无梦的沉睡

 

沉睡。飓风和林间鸟儿的歌唱

都无法将他唤醒

在紫色的百里香、三叶草下

他终于安眠

 

李艳翻译

 

RIP brother Lin!