Qinceanera Haiku

White and orange balloons
colorful dreams soaring high
where is mine? Ask I
黄白的气球
多彩的梦竞争高
我梦踪影遥

Proudly smiling
at the door the father greets
each arriving guest
微笑何自豪
父立门前迎客到
握手相言笑

You can take a break
until the day they are married
I want to tell him
君可少歇息
直到女儿出嫁时
我欲其知晓

With tears the daughter
thanks her parents their love
of fifteen years’ deep
眼中泪花笑
女儿感谢十五载
父母多辛劳

The master calls quests
to dance Waltz with her
boats rocking on sea
司仪点客名
与女一舞华尔兹
海上船儿摇

Take this cake on plate
soft, sweet, it melts in my mouth
vanishing like years
请食盘中糕
甜软入口顷刻消
光阴亦如此

A bud she is to bloom
into unseen adulthood
other petals wither
花蕊来日开
成人年月费疑猜
群芳先她衰

A glass of Champaign
crystal ball telling nothing
when I gaze into its wall
一杯香槟酒
一个沉默水晶球
不理我期求

A guest here I am
and also on the planet
thus spoke the Aztecs
我本一来客
阿兹台人如是说
此生瞬间过

From Mount Alban to
el mercado of today
moves the life force strong
古起阿班山
直到如今菜市场
生命长流淌



2006,7.16