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| Email and Poems and Gracious Messages from Ding-Jen Lee (李定禎) received from Ding-Jen Lee (李定禎) |
| Taiwan Island Village: 台灣島村: Hsinchu (Xinzhu) High School Reminisced 憶竹中 忆竹中 |
| Email Message from Ding-Jen Lee 李定禎 |
| Hi Bill: Thanks for your email. I enjoyed reading it. Not too long ago I read somewhere saying that the high school is a gateway to adulthood. So I wrote a poem (sonnet) entitled "Gateway". One may say it is a version of " 回首來時 路 ". Hope you'll like it. |
| Gateway D. J. Lee, Sept. 2010 Arrived at the gateway, the creek was running high, Some sought happiness; others sought fame or gold. It would lead us to Paradise, wished you and I. One day we departed for a dream mighty bold. Soon my innocence was crushed by the rising And falling tides of time. Helpless, I tried to stand. Like a bird flying off for thousand miles, facing Head winds, found pastures no greener than home land. Retrieve a half-broken dream, I know no finite Truth. I have felt more bitterness than sweet. Sailing in fading embers of the day, in hindsight I see days at the gateway as days of a great treat. The path to Eden was lost, ever since Adam's fall. Those at the gateway must labour and stand tall. |
| Gateway by Ding-Jen Lee 李定禎 |
| Now the time is close to the days of coming High School Class Reunion, I would like to say something to express my thanks and appreciation to my high school teachers. Although I read some books of Chinese and English literature, following my retirement, my inspiration (and skill) was dry. I could not create something that is original, not to mention to write a classic Chinese seven words regulated poem. So I translated the lyrics of the song "To Sir with Love" into Chinese, to serve the purpose. When the movie was first showing in the theaters in Taiwan it was translated as " 吾愛吾師" , but I like " 敬愛吾師 " better. To Sir with Love 敬愛吾師 Those schoolgirl days of telling tales and biting nails are gone. 那些女學生說悄悄話咬指甲的日子是過去了, But in my mind I know they will still live on and on. 但我知道它會在我心裡永遠忘不掉. But how do you thank someone, who has taken you from crayons to perfume? 如何才能答謝師長, 他把你從幼稚 (臘筆) 帶到成長 (香水)? It isn't easy, but I'll try. 雖然不容易, 但我會試嘗. If you wanted the sky, I would write across the sky in letters, 如果您喜歡天空, 我就會寫字跨越天空. That would soar a thousand feet high, 它會千呎高聳, To Sir, with Love 敬愛吾師 The time has come for closing books, and long last looks must end. 收拾書包的時刻己到, 最後悠長的一瞥己盡 And as I leave,I know that I am leaving my best friend, 當我離去, 我知道我離別了最好的朋友. A friend who taught me right from wrong, And weak from strong, 這個朋友教我明辨是非, 從善去惡. That's a lot to learn, What, what can I give you in return? 學了好多, 我能回報些甚磨給您? If you wanted the moon I would try to make a start, 如果您喜歡月亮, 我會試著去找尋. But I, would rather you let me give my heart, 但我寧願您接收我的愛心. To Sir, with Love 敬愛吾師 D. J. Lee |
| To Sir with Love 敬愛吾師 by Ding-Jen Lee 李定禎 |