07/04/2023
Happy Birthday America! πΊπΈπππ Happy Birthday to me! ππππ
Thanks to everyone for wonderful birthday wishes πππβ€οΈ My most treasured birthday gif is a poem my Dad wrote! π₯°π₯°
Born on the glorious Independence Day
In the troubled Middle Kingdom.
You came to this world with a loud cry,
An infantβs cry for freedom!
Empowered by this supreme order,
I did my utmost to create our destiny.
Only after fourteen yearsβ torture,
Did we embrace the Statute of Liberty!
The torch that the Lady holds high,
A fair sun over the land of opportunity.
In its beautiful sunshine you grew up,
You will make the American dream a reality.
While Time lightens our sad memories,
Turning the good ones into treasure.
All the moments we played together
Became enduring, ever-endearing pleasure:
Laughing, I hit the balloon with one finger,
Screaming, you struck it with two palms.
So often I feel regretfully sentimental
That we canβt repeat such innocent charms!
Scared, you truly believed Daddy was a wolf,
Amused, I saw in the rabbit my daughter.
In trembling songs you exercised vigilance,
Caught the wolf with the help of the hunter.
I told you stories in the picture books,
Leading you and myself to a wonderland.
The mind has such miraculous power
That it can make misery this grand!
You became a serious judge at two,
For testing my newly-shaved face.
The unfailing standards you used
Were your cheeks, oh, with such grace!
Almost at the same time you learned
How to scratch my back with tiny nails.
You were so proud to stop the itching,
While listening attentively to fairy-tales!
But what I hold dearest to my heart,
Is the reminiscence of carrying you around.
Wrapped up in swaddling-clothes,
Suddenly you started cooing, a magic sound.
A sound from pure Being to Becoming,
Not yet knowing a single anxiety.
It is the true Happiness herself,
It is all that I wish you to be.
Enjoy fully what you already have,
Donβt worry about what you have not.
Seek what you really desire, you will find it;
Always create, you will create your lot.
