A Teacher's Tribute To Her Dear Students

This is a poem I wrote way back in 2000 for all my ESL/FL students, then and now.

The plum blossom is full of fragrance
      because it suffers the bitter cold...
The sword is perfectly sharp
      because it goes through the grindstone...
The eagle soars to new heights
      because it is not afraid to fall...
The ocean shore is reached
      because the captain chooses to defy
      the cruel waves and violent storms...
The eye is never sad at the sight
      of dark clouds adrift
      because it knows the promises of light.

Thus, it is how you pursue rowing your boats
      with vigor to the banks of learning
      and scaling the mountains
Even if the way is torturous
      you still follow your dreams...
And just like how a mother feels over
      her children's relentless efforts to learn
Your struggles and pains are also mine
Your sense of fulfillment is my joy, too.

May all your aspirations and hopes come true...
May your happiness be as immense
      as the deep eastern sea...
And remember the bright sun
      always rises high
      in the east blue sky.