A ‘Mate

Of February it’s the 6th day.
Exactly one year ago we lost a dear ‘mate.
Entered the Horse for the 7th day,
We Chinese call it All Peoples’ Birthday.
Last year today on the lunar calendar,
It’s cloudy ‘n windy in Richmond Hill, Canada.
Together with classmates from the United States,
We paid our last respects to this dear ‘mate.

Though our class list has since gone thru’ updates,
The ‘mate’s name is here to stay.
He’ll forever be one of our comrades;
As he’s been for almost five decades.

He’s described as jolly by our teacher “Homer”;
One can hardly find better adjectives in the
dictionary.
We’ve all missed his laughter ‘n humour,
Ever since his departure last February.

Sippin’ morning coffee at McDonald’s these days,
“Ah Gai” would no longer be greeted by nickname.
Coffee time is best enjoyed with a jolly ‘mate;
Whether or not it’s in a McCafé.

The Chinese character texts below are a revision/translation combo of the verse above, dated 6th February, 2014, i.e., the 7th day of that lunar year.

伴

時光流轉
又到了二月六日
按農曆是馬年的第七日

華人稱之為「人日」
即是人人的生日

回想蛇年人日
冬正隆
灰雲蔽日
雖凛冽寒風
也未能將密雲吹散
大多市和紐約的同窗
伴同何老師
冰天雪地之間
來到列治文山
齊向約翰同學道别

那是—年前的事了
伴學五七載
同窗好念舊
雖然人已走
但在同學名册上
約翰的名字依然保留
就像他給大家歡樂的回憶
不會溜走

噢! 是的
「歡樂的」
是何等貼切的一個形容詞
知約翰者
莫若何老師

今時今日的清晨
我在列治文山喝咖啡時
再不會有人喊「阿雞」這名字
往日一同嘆咖啡
傾談良久不覺累
添多一杯
繼續享受幽默風趣
無論是否在麥記
數最佳咖啡伴侶
誰及一位歡樂的老友記

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