Song to the Heaven

--- Dedicated to Irene Shen ---

December, 2003

天唱

--- 献给沈意 ---

小竹

2003年12月

Once again, last time when I saw you, you said gently to me that you will “stick it out.” You did “stick it out”, for 14 years. It’s been 14 years since you kissed your little Dingmao good-bye, stepping on a road leading abroad, and never returned. Why, why should you leave homeland, why give up a job you loved so much, and come to a country of strangers to take the burden to start, to struggle, to survive? It was for your child, for your family, for the search of new dreams and hope. 

你最后一次轻声的对我说: “再挺-挺”. 这一挺, 就是十四年. 十四年前, 你吻别你的丁卯, 踏上这不归之路. 为什么要离别故土? 为什么要放弃心爱的工作? 为什么要来到这陌生的土地去承受这沉重的生活? 为了孩子, 为了家, 为了希望, 为了那永远的追求.

You and I, among many of our sisters, all “stick it out”. We learn English, we learn to sell those little purses… step by step, little by little, with sweat and blood, we have all tried our best to “stick it out”. You did it. You did “stick it out”, day by day, watching Dingmao growing up, cooking dishes for Weixi, you smile from your heart. You have a cozy home, a warm family. Once you told me, for love, for family, you were learning to understand, to communicate, and to support; you had been trying all your best.

你和我, 还有许多的她, 就这么挺着, 我们走进了英文班, 我们在那小小的皮包店叫买, ……  一滴汗, 一滴血, 就是为了这 “挺-挺”. 你挺过来了, 你每天看着丁卯长高, 你每天做着可口的饭菜给为熙, 你微笑着, 你有一个温暖的家. 你曾对我说过, 为了爱, 为了家, 就要懂得理解, 懂得交流, 懂得支持, 你做了这一切.

When you were very ill, every time I visited you, I always heard your words: “stick it out”. You wanted stick it out, you would never give up. With all your love for Weixi, all your heart for Dingmao, You would never give up. You tried your best. Each time I visited you, I was deeply moved. Shen Yi, you were strong. You were a dedicated wife, a dedicated mother, and a friend I respected most.

在病魔缠身的时候, 每次你见到我, 总是说: “再挺-挺”. 你放不下为熙 -  那一片深沉的情, 你放不下丁卯  -  那一颗永恒的爱心. 你是一位坚强的女性, 你是一位奉献的母亲, 你是一位贤慧的妻子, 你是一位让我感佩的朋友.

Now, you left us for the other world, Shen Yi, we all will miss you, forever miss you. Let’s drink one more cup together, for the final farewell; let’s walk with you for the last steps, to say our eternal good bye to you. Let the snow melt gently, gently into your heart; let the May breeze be gentle, when it will touch your hairs; let the green forest of Summer, forever kiss your smile; let the golden leaves of Fall, carefully cover your body warm.

沈意,西出阳关无故人, 让我们再喝上一杯酒, 让我们再走上一程路, 让洛矶山的雪水缓缓流进你的心田, 让五月的春风轻轻吹拂你的秀发, 让葱郁的杉树林亲吻你的微笑, 让金色的秋叶柔柔盖在你的身驱.

“Stick it out”, I know you would always say it to me. Let’s sing together for one more time, the song of the eternal life:

你永远会对我说: “再挺-挺”  , 让我们一起咏唱那生命的永恒:

Tender is the time to die the last death

And the time for the first birth

Bright is the sun with virgin light

With no vast distance here

River and mountain reach the blue sky for life

With so many good-by kisses

The folks tongue smooth the dying bed of stone

Let the years be blown off by winds

Cast for the flying hawks

Let the bodies be held up by clouds

Handed to the blue heavens.

最后的死去和最初的诞生一样

都是温磬的时光

最后的晚霞和最初的晨曦一样

都是太阳辉煌

迎接生命的时侯

这一方山水离蓝天最近

送走生命的时侯

这里的乡亲高高昂望

让风吹散年华

洒给飞鹰

让云托起了身体

交给穹苍

The assistance in Chinese-English translation by Mr. Yang Zhengji is gratefully acknowledged.

Source of the poem: “Sky Burial”, Album of Sister Drum.

沈意是我一位已故的挚友。