I miss Hualien 懷念花蓮

Arkansas House Speaker Robbie Wills was invited to attend the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung , Taiwan . He reported in his website that he experienced 6.5 scale earth quake and visited scenic Taroko Gorge。[http://www.robbiewills.com/ 2009/07/15 /wednesday-in-taiwan/comment-page-1/#comment-1345]

 

Their photos made me reminisce:

 

 

Oh, I miss Hualien. The Gorge, the ocean and the quake.

I lived there 12 of my 18 years in Taiwan till I retired.

 

Taroko Gorge was like a dream garden in my backyard.

I would drive on weekends deep into the Gorge,

tilt my head way back to watch the peaks that stood next to me,

and guessed how high they could be.

 

White clouds flew by in between.

 

I would visit the rest area at the entrance of the Gorge

and order some snacks and coffee,

sit back and enjoy the baked sweet potato, the surrounding mountains and the river below.

 

How the families enjoyed their holiday on the green lawn.

 

The Ocean used to be part of my front yard.

I would go to the harbor during the typhoon days,

to watch the huge waves rushing ashore,

to feel the force of the nature.

 

I used to walk to the beach on calm days,

and whisper into the wind:

 

東望一片平洋

西眺千重峰巒

頂上萬里晴空

心靈忽通宇環

、、、

Inside the Taroko or facing the Pacific,

There were beauty, purity, and serenity that no one could miss.

Everyone would be struck with awe.

For short moments, I could forget the corruptions and hypocrisy,

And find the peace in my heart, that is so healing.

 

 

And, ah, yes, those earthquakes.

From underneath they would rock and roar.

They would wake me up in the middle of the night.

There were commotions in the street, but I never panicked.

I knew the world would never crumble.

Like my spirit that will always stand tall.

 

、、、

原是深山清流

何來一身污泥濁浪

只願臨去仙風道骨

一葉輕舟

戲水逐流幾時返。

 

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