最美的秋天

雀跃只需要树上的点点红、点点黄、点点橙。心跳只须要干燥数月后的温润秋雨带来的气息。这是最美的秋天。

 

The Most Beautiful Fall

Dots of red, yellow, and orange in trees elicits happy jumps easily. The smell from the warm fall rain after several dry months fastens heart beats without efforts. This is the most beautiful fall.   

 

梦想成真

          母亲去世前回光返照的几个月我几乎每天与她视频，之前两地分离时每周至少一个电话。母亲2018年三月撒手人寰后，我时时念叨着要是能再跟她通话就好了。没想到去年夏天梦想成真。

          我记得是很明丽的夏日清晨，我一本书一本书整理，一页一页拍照。突然一张卡片从书里掉落到地上，捡起卡片，竟是母亲的字迹：“我们于2009年7月19日上午11点半到美国列克星顿市，至今已有10天，再过20天我们又要回中国去了。路上非常辛苦，主要是转机时太困难。在这里很好。美国空气好、树好、草苹好、公路好。只是柏青每日都要为我们准备三餐安排活动。她太累了，那天她竟然病了，我很担心。”不禁潸然泪下。

          九月十日是中国的教师节，今年的九月十一日是美国恐怖袭击二十周年。

          时势和家事仍然影响着每个人。母亲的培育方方面面：德智体美劳。母亲家事公事一样没少操劳。母亲更是为国事担心尽力。母亲少女时的日记披露她对照父辈勤于检视自身问题的思考。除了母亲，已经辞世的师长甚至年龄比我小的人都用自己的奉献和生命为我们的世界递送着希望和光明。

          Dr. Donnermeyer在农村犯罪学前言里写到，当我们种种的努力换来的是几十年如一日的坏消息时，似乎唯一能做的是对新闻不闻不问。我理解由于希望带来的失望。当我再打开新闻时，我听到了一则关于放弃高位甘于做公益的报道。

 

Dreams Came True

          I video chatted with my mother almost every day during the few months before she passed way. She seemed to do well. For most of the time we were living apart, I called home at least once a week. I dreamed of talking with my mother one more time after she died in March 2018. To my surprise, my dream came true last summer.

          I remember it was a bright and beautiful morning. I sorted out my books by taking picture of each page. Suddenly a card stuck in a book fell onto the floor. On the card, mother’s handwriting read, “We arrived in Lexington at 11:30am on July the 19^th, 2009. We have been here for ten days and will fly back to China in 20 days. It was a difficult trip due to flight connections. It is great here. In the U.S., everything is good: the air, trees, lawns, and roads. The only thing is that my daughter has to prepare three meals and arrange activities for us every day. She was so tired that she fell ill the other day. I was worried.” Tears rolled down from my eyes.

          In China, September the 10^th is teacher’s day. In the U.S., this year’s September 11^th marks the 20^th anniversary of the terrorist attack.

          We are all influenced by events in the society and at home. My mother cultivated every aspect of the younger generation’s development: ethics, knowledge, sports, aesthetics, and work. My mother took care of her job and family. She also paid attention to social issues. In her journal, she critiqued herself by comparing with the generation before her when she grew. Other mentors and role models (who are older and younger than me) also have given hope and light to this world with their dedication and lives.

          In the preface of Rural Criminology, Dr. Donnermeyer states that turning off bad news we had had several decades in a row despite all efforts seemed to be the only solution. I understand the disappointment from hope. When I turned on the news, it was about a non-profit whose founder gave up a well paying job to create the organization.

 

Space and Togetherness

I had a wonderful time at the Poetic Justice session of Society for the Study of Social Problems. I listened to many powerful poems and got to read mine. The online community for an hour was lively with hope for social justice. If we divide space into online and offline, the offline space can also create a sense of togetherness. When we gather, because of body movement and/or vocal effect, a feeling of oneness that is larger than each individual is very powerful, which is well documented by sociologists. I guess the space where people meet, online or offline, are meant to create something higher and more positive than each of us can achieve on our own. THAT  is a great source of strength and pride. 

聚合

社会问题研究学会的线上会议收尾场以诗论社会正义，好诗连连，令人振奋。我也以诗会友，一个小时的聚会充满了对未来的希望。如果把空间分为线上和线下，线下聚会同样可以带来共振。正如社会学家所述，由于肢体与他人同动互动我们会感受到大于每个个体的集体感召力。这大概是因为线上和线下空间都是用来创造个体无法达到的高度和正能量。聚合是我们力量和骄傲的驱动力

So Short, So Long

To Barbara, In Memory of Daniel

 

A life lost in its prime is so short.

A life touching others’ with kindness

Is so long.

 

The conversation was so short.

The joy and warmth lasted so long.

 

A happy lark bounced about on the lush lawn.

Some modest crows bathed away from sight.

Kitten’s friends,

Messengers of life

Visited briefly on a bright summer afternoon.

A green river in shade

Rippled to an endless destination.

 

短与长：纪念丹尼

-致献芭芭拉

 

短暂的生命

数不清的善行义举。

 

一面之交

生命的欢乐和温暖

久久萦绕心扉。

向善欢歌的云雀

在油绿的草坪上蹦跳。

目不及处

内敛的乌鸦淋水沐浴。

这些生命的信使，猫儿的伴侣

在这个刺目的夏日午后匆匆造访。

浓荫下的绿色河流

泛着涟漪涌向无边的尽头。

 

 

Watching Frozen II

What do I wake up for?

Kitty’s kisses, fresh air, and Frozen II.

It speaks a simple truth:

Kindness and love,

 Who can survive without those?

观冰雪奇缘续集

为什麽要醒来？

猫咪的小刺吻、新鲜的空气

还有冰雪奇缘续集

讲着善良和爱的故事。

没有善良和爱

拿什么生存？