New Year’s Eve 除夕

Queues of shoppers bustle
Lively ambience in the streets
Blessed to return home to dine
Usher in the new year bright.

搶購食材排長龍
街頭一片鬧哄哄
回家吃飯是福氣
一起迎接新年啟。

Walk 走

When we get old
And my steps start to
Falter, what comfort to
Have your hand to hold
Though we may go slower
But nonetheless dearer.

當我們老了
而我步伐開始
蹣跚，能握著你的手
會是那麼的安慰
或許走得更慢
但更親切。

Sounds 聲音

The sounds of liveliness
Pulsate with energy
The sounds of silence
Echo with introspection
The sounds of time
Trickle with retrospection
The sounds of timelessness
Whisper with knowledge.

熱鬧的聲音
顫動著活力
寂靜的聲音
回音著反思
時間的聲音
細流著追憶
永恆的聲音
輕訴著了解。

Ain’t A War 不是個戰爭

I often wonder
How Grandma survived a war

Feels like we’re living one

Not fought with guns or cannons
But boosters and restrictions
Yet the same stoic endurance needed
Days to days, months to months
Many lose count and then it doesn’t
Matter

Grandma says
This ain’t a war

She has lived through one

And thinks it worse, for then
Many followed instructions, to die
Could we follow instructions, to live?
Months to months, years to years
To live fully yet wise is what will
Matter.

我常想著
阿嬤如何走出戰爭

當下如戰場

不用槍彈大炮
而是追加劑與限制
但需相同的堅忍能耐
日復日、月復月
眾人失算了也
大不了

阿嬤說
這不是個戰爭

她活過戰場

並認為它更罪惡，因
人們服從便死亡
我們能否服從來生存？
月復月、年復年
活得充實又明智才是
最重要。

Cleanse 清洗

Cleansing right requires
The right cleansing agents;
Oil dissolves grime before
Soap cleans the dirt, so we
Cleanse inner thoughts before
External cleaning works.

正確清洗需
正確的清潔劑；
油能化解污垢，後
肥皂才能洗淨，那就
洗清內在思維，後
把外在來清除。

Oil for Grime: A Life Hack

The infamously obstinate kitchen grime and dirt lay placidly on my shelves and jars. I was cleaning my kitchen and had decided to tackle that ultimate bane of housekeeping.

Tapping on a kitchen hack I had come to know of, I fetched a small cup of cooking oil with a straw in it and set it down. Reaching out, I brought down a grimy jar, then proceeded to drip on it a few drops of oil using the straw.

He stopped by and looked with interest as I was rubbing the oil into the grime.

“Are you cleaning the jars?”

“Yes, and the shelves too.”

When all the oil had been rubbed in, I took a paper napkin and wiped down the jar. Almost as if a miracle, it came out grime-less and clean.

“I see you’ve got a splendid hack for grime there.” He nodded in approval at the gleaming jar.

“Thanks! It should work even on the thickest grime that I hadn’t touched in years! But it will probably take a little more oil, and time…” I glanced up at the ancient layer of dirt on the topmost shelf. “Soap and water is fine for surface dirt, but for stubbornly rooted grime, rubbing oil loosens it from where it clings so it can be easily wiped away. And then, an easy wash with soap and water for total cleansing!”

“That sounds pretty much like how people can be restored too – cleaning out the grime from what’s in the depths of their minds – using the right cleansing agent and a little time – then a final surface wash, and we’re good as new.” He grinned.

“That’s indeed pretty much it, I guess.” I stared at the clean jar in my hand. It wasn’t sticky to the touch or dirty anymore.

“But it will be all worth it to have everything restored to its former shine, won’t it?” He said, looking at the other jars sitting on the shelves.

“Yeah! Then the jars will be all ready for use again!” I grinned back.

“Great! I’ll leave you to it then.” He waved as I shook a grimy hand at him, and then walked away as I picked up the next jar.

Air 空氣

When the air is cool
I’ll take a walk with you
When the air is sultry
Hide in the shade with me

When the air is alive
We’ll go for a scenic ride
Until the day ends
And it’s you by my side.

當空氣涼爽
讓我陪你散步
當空氣悶熱
與我躲在陰涼

當空氣充滿活力
我們去兜兜風
直到那天已結束
在身邊的就是你。

Happiness 快樂

Happiness is an achievement
That cannot be seen, but felt
It is personal and exclusive –
Our vicarious sharing in
Another’s happiness
Accords us not its intensity
But spreads nonetheless
Good cheer and energy.

快樂是個成就
看不見，卻能感受
它專屬又獨特 —
我們間接分享
他人的快樂
也取不得它的強度
儘管如此，也會散發
歡樂與正能量。

Behind The Wall

Came across the story of pianists Giorgio and Emil who lived beside each other for a while, and felt the words and sentiments appearing.

My soul stirred and woke
To the melodies of you
From behind the wall
That separated us two

A desire to draw closer
And you closer to me
Made me slip you a note
That we would meet

When my playing ceased
That you might continue
And when your songs led
I would surely follow through

You acceded my whim
To my utmost delight
Two piano players playing
Together out of sight

When we finally met
It sealed my destiny
You said I was your light
Did you know you were to me

Yet the sun at day’s end set
So it came for us to part
Though your playing has ceased
I shall continue with my heart

You left me a precious gift
Of the melodies of you
And I’ll play behind this wall
That now separates us two.

Spring 春天

Spring is
Awakening colours
Fresh scents of air
And you the endearing
One loving me.

春天是
甦醒的色彩
清新的氣息
也是溫馨的你
與被愛的我。