浮生飘絮（ 178 ： The Rose Garden ）

 (山静） 

The Rose Garden ,
yellow, white, and red,
in full blossom;
beauty , fragrance,
soothing,
from the eye to the heart,
whether you just pass by,
or a special visitor.

Inside the Church,
evening, dim light,
still magnificent,
an army of long chairs,
rows by rows,
empty, except only one
tiny little figure
sitting there,
so quiet.

Oh, the air is so heavy,
soaked with prayers.
Dear God: would you please 
take one more?

Becha, such a gentle old lady,
with an angel’s heart,
her lung cancer has spread;
Marge, such an accomplished anthropologist,
with a kindred spirit,
just diagnosed with leukemia;

And there’s another pure soul,
so innocent, is also
suffering inside,
from an unknown disease.

Dear God: I have always
refused to believe
that “No good deeds go unpunished.”
Could you hear me:
why are all these happening?

2011 4 19