When I attended grade school in Taiwan, we had to memorize all the lessons in our standard Chinese readers. I can’t recall most of those lessons now, but there is one that I’m still able to recite from memory in its entirety. The sentiments portrayed in that lesson left a lasting impression on my young heart. Also, the rhyming scheme used made it read like a poem, and therefore easier to remember.
In the first scene, a child is anxiously waiting for his fisherman father to return from a stormy day at sea. In the second scene, the exhausted father returns with his bountiful catch.
天这么黑，风这么大，
Tiān zhème hēi, fēng zhème dà,
It’s so dark and the wind so strong,
爸爸捕鱼去，为什么还不回家？
bàba bǔ yú qù, wèishéme hái bù huí jiā?
Dad went to catch fish; why is he not home yet?
听狂风怒号，真叫我心里害怕！
Tīng kuángfēng nùháo, zhēn jiào wǒ xīnlǐ hàipà!
Listen to the gale howling; it really makes me fearful.
爸呀！爸呀！我们多么牵挂.
Bà ya! Bà ya! Wǒmen duōme qiānguà.
Daddy! Daddy! How we miss you and worry about you.
只要你早早回家，便是空船也罢！
Zhǐyào nǐ zǎozǎo huí jiā, biàn shì kōng chuán yěbà!
As long as you come back soon, it’s all right even if the boat is empty.
我的好宝宝，爸爸回来了.
Wǒ de hǎo bǎobǎo, bàba huíláile.
My dearling child, Daddy is back now.
满船鱼和虾，你看有多少！
Mǎn chuán yú hé xiā, nǐ kàn yǒu duōshǎo!
A boatful of fish and shrimp; look, how plentiful that is!
卖鱼买米布，大家可温饱.
Mài yú mǎi mǐ bù, dàjiā kě wēnbǎo.
Sell the fish and buy rice and fabric; everyone will be warm and fed.
爸爸不怕累，只要大家好.
Bàba bùpà lèi, zhǐyào dàjiā hǎo.
Daddy doesn’t mind being tired, as long as everyone can be well cared for.
I think most of us have a great father to be thankful for. Be sure to show your gratitude while they are still able to appreciate it.
Have a Happy Father’s Day!
父亲节快乐!
Fùqīn jié kuàilè!
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