A PSALM OF LIFE-- in momory of Alex Lee

A PSALM OF LIFE 生 命 之 讚 美 詩
Henry W. Longfellow 朗非羅 (1807-1882)

Tell me not, in mournful numbers, 勿以哀傷的詩句向我訴說
Life is but an empty dream! 人生只不過是場空虛的夢
For the soul is dead that slumbers 因為怠之靈魂惰無異已死
And things are not what they seem. 事物非外在所顯示之模樣

Life is real! Life is earnest! 人生真實!人生嚴肅!
And the grave is not its goal; 墳墓非其最終目的
Dust thou art, to dust returnest, 你來自塵土，歸至塵土
Was not spoken of the soul. 並非針對靈魂而言

Not enjoyment and not sorrow, 非享樂，亦非傷悲
Is our destined end or way; 我們的目標或前途
But to act, that each tomorrow 要要努力以致每個明日
Finds us farther than today. 發現我們比今日更進步

Art is long, and Time is fleeting, 技藝永恆，光陰易逝
And our hearts, though stout and brave, 我們內心雖堅強，勇敢
Still, like muffled drums, and beating 仍如悶聲鼓敲擊著
Funeral marches to the grave. 送葬行列墳場赴

In the world's broad field of battle, 在世界廣大戰場上，
In the bivouac of Life, 在人生短暫旅途中。
Be not like dumb, driven cattle! 別像沉默被驅之牛群
Be a hero in the strife! 要當奮鬥中之英雄

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant! 勿信未來，無論多麼愉快
Let the dead past bury its dead! 過去的就讓它過去
Act, -- act in the living Present! 努力，努力於今朝
Heart within, and God o'erhead! 盡心力，上蒼庇祐

Lives of great men all remind us 偉人生平令我們憶起
We can make our lives sublime, 我們亦可使生命崇高
And, departing, leave behind us 一旦離開這世界時
Footprints on the sands of time; 留下人生歷史的足跡

Footprints, that perhaps another, 或許另一航海者
Sailing o'er life's solemn main, 渡過人生嚴肅大海
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, 孤獨船難之弟兄
Seeing, shall take heart again. 見到足跡重拾勇氣

Let us, then, be up and doing 讓我們起而行
With a heart for any fate; 以面對任何命運之心志
Still achieving, still pursuing, 繼續成就，際續追求
Learn to labor and to wait 學習努力與等待。

This poem taken from Longfellow's Voices of the Night (1839) seems to give us a great deal of good advice. It tells us not to waste our time but to be up and doing; not to be discouraged by sufferings or failures but to have a heart for any fate; not to judge life by temporary standards but to look to eternal reward.
選取自朗非羅(1839出版)的“夜之音”，這首詩提供我們許多忠告。它告訴我們不要浪費我們的光陰而要起而行﹔不要因受苦或失敗感到沮喪，而要擁有面對任何命運之心﹔必要以暫時的標準評判人生，而要期盼永恆的犒賞。

謹以此詩 紀念Alex李遠生
Alex's memorial service was held yesterday afternoon (2009-2-21). Bill, Cindy, Echo, Christine, Ilona, Iris, 姜守芸, 智君等 went too. We felt so sad. A 45-year-old man left his parents, sisters, his wife and 3 kids behind him, with the youngest only 5 year old. Last December Alex was diagnosed with liver cancer and died on Feb. 7. So abrupt that none was prepared to see him leave. Well, the transience of life... "The art of losing's not hard to master..." Bishop's line lingers in my ears but still hurts in my heart. I have lost so many good friends over recent years. Echo said she had a feeling that Alex was present in the service. Maybe he did. I guess he didn't want to leave, either. But we all have our journey to take, and a road we walk on. I hope no matter what road we choose, we are walking with our Lord. With God our guidance, we are not alone.