海邊黃昏 Seaside Twilight

金道歡迎日榮歸;
The golden path welcomes the sun to gloriously set;
強濤激盪鳥舞飛。
Strong waves excite birds to energetically fly.
樹群投影人攝影;
Trees cast shadows while visitors take photos;
崖壁映暉霧藏暉。
Cliffs reflect sunlight while fog conceals sunlight.

蘋果園區訪客中心 Apple Park Visitor Center

即興遊蘋果，
We had an impromptu visit to Apple,
虛實樂趣多。
Where the real mingled with the virtual.
巨環襯合影，
Before the huge circle we got a group photo,
三臉各酒窩。
Wherein our three faces each showed a dimple.

Pas, Sons, and Pop Songs

On a spring night twenty-five years ago (months after I first came to the US), I drove back to school from Yosemite. Pop songs played from the car stereo. Enjoying the energetic tempos, I bobbed my head and pumped energy into the engine accordingly. My father, who had traveled overseas to visit me, sat next to me and refrained from frequently telling me to slow down. My hardworking father had never continuously listened to pop songs for this long. In the back seat, two friends cheerfully sang along. Further back, a car shot high beams into my rear-view mirror, pushing me to drive even faster to escape the glare--until the car started flashing and revealed itself to be a police car. Someone advised, "Stop the music!" I turned off the music. Minutes later, I was given my first speeding ticket.

Three days ago, it's an autumn night, and I drove my younger son back to school. Pop songs played from the car stereo--my older son had just given me a CD of his newly-released album. Enjoying the energetic tempos, the younger son and I chatted enthusiastically about the older son's music, and I drove carefully. I had learned to just let others pass when they shot high beams into my rear-view mirror. My phone rang. "Can you turn on the speakerphone?" I requested, and I turned off the music. The call was from the father of the host family who kindly took care of me when I first came to the US. He called to rave about the album. Here is a Spotify link to the album, IN 20: https://open.spotify.com/album/4dOSoAKRqmutpXv3tIBKpY. (One's Facebook account and password can be used for Spotify login.) It's an enjoyable gift.

單足鷗 One-Legged Seagull

強風擾不休，
Amid the strong and incessant wind,
佇立單足鷗。
The one-legged seagull stands for long.
搖晃求平穩，
It wobbles for balance;
內心幾許憂？
How disturbed is its mind?



* Matthew 6:25-27

待客2 Times with Visitors 2

灣區多訪客，
In the Bay Area, I meet visitors oftentimes.
聚散總惜緣。
I cherish friendships whether we are together or apart.
同樂道珍重，
Farewells follow fun times.
內心存笑顏。
Smiles remain in my heart.

* 井蛙之井 (residence); 十架之十 (relationships).

紀念 Memorial

木樹長遮蔭，
Like trees they have provided shelter for a long time;
松林總翠青。
Their pine forest is always green.
素質傳後嗣，
Their qualities are inherited by their descendants,
娥俊也聰明。
Who are beautiful and intelligent.

* In memory of 木松 and 素娥

賀金婚 Congratulations on Golden Anniversary

柳枝優雅心，
Like willow branches they live gracefully.
江浪廣福音。
Like river waves they tirelessly preach the gospel.
美國幫故土，
In the United States they help their motherland.
和樂享天恩。
Peacefully they enjoy heavenly blessings.

柳 = willow
江 = river
美 = the United States of America; beauty
和 = peace

Congratulations to 柳江 & 美和.

討生活施生活1 Life of Demand and Supply 1

請求亦幫助，
One asks; one also helps.
得到也付出。
One gets; one also gives.
施受皆天賜，
All the given and gotten are Gifts.
感恩和祝福。
Many thanks and best wishes.

討生活施生活2

今天長輩金婚宴,

寫首新詩作紀念.

討生活也施生活,

時面上方時下面.

小湖清晨 An Early Morning at a Small Lake

岸邊攝影家;
Photographers shoot from the shore;
湖面覓食鴨。
Ducks hunt on the lake.
翅翼迎朝日;
Wings welcome the rising sun;
漣漪映彩霞。
Ripples reflect colorful clouds.

"岸"有山部; "湖"有水部.  "山"對"水". 論語: "知者樂水, 仁者樂山." "山水" can also mean “landscape.”

"岸邊"對"湖面" (仄平; 平仄).

"攝影家"對"覓食鴨" (仄仄平; 仄平平; 一三五不論).

"翅"和"翼"都有羽部; "漣"和"漪"都有水部.

"翅翼"對"漣漪" (仄仄; 平平).

"翼"和"漪"發音都是yi, 可是"翼"發四聲 (仄聲), "漪"發一聲 (平聲).

"迎"和"映"發音都是ying, 可是"迎"發二聲 (平聲), "映"發四聲 (仄聲).

"迎朝日"對"映彩霞" (平平仄; 仄仄平).

(另解: 有"青水"的早晨 = "清"晨.)