POEM TRANSLATION ECHOES 493
CHEERFUL CELEBRATION
（欢庆）
sumptuous seafood
丰盛的海鲜
surprise by a candle cake
惊喜以蜡烛蛋糕
with serenade tune
奏小音乐曲
blow the candle light
吹灭了蜡烛
without making any wish
无作出任何愿望
for life is fulfilled
生命是充实
bless with friendly breeze
友好的祝福
appreciate applause in
感恩在克罗地亞
Croatian café
咖啡馆掌声
Note:
On my return from the Balkan tour on the 18th October, my daughter from Singapore travelled all the way to celebrate my belated birthday. In fact my nephew’s birthday fell on the same date; he was invited to have a co celebration. He, in turn celebrated his Masters in IT, and invited us for another dinner. So Chinese is a nationality that talks about meals in another meal.
That’s a traditional birthday cake, with the word 寿 shou, meaning longevity; there is many smaller POW or cakes, within and without the larger ones. There is a fine longevity noodles cuisine. Fish is homophonic with excess; and with sea and land supply, there is abundant food. Finally there are vegetables, with fish mow and sea cucumber. Most importantly, a round table, implying the beginning and end are the same in our circular relates; not a rectangular or square table, where family members sit on opposite sides. I think the English or Malay educated among us have lost the flavor of good family relate; or rather, the modern semi-educated Chinese too.
One will notice there is no candle to blow; strange to blow the light of birth off!
wonkywizard 