台英雙語散文
（一） 花蕊的鎖匙
“Pluck this little flower and take it. Delay not! I fear lest it droop and drop into the dust.”
“挽掉這小小的花蕊吧，毋通延遲！無者，我恐驚伊早早就會謝落去塗沙粉內。”
毋但詩人泰戈爾(Tagore)對時間敏利，便若是想欲認真生存的有心人一定嘛有同感。無情的時間親像流水，小可無細膩會雄雄發現家己的氣力軟去、親戚朋友一个一个離開去。
“Seize the day, make life extraordinary.”
這是後生對生命的看法，伊欲予老父老母掠牢每一工的精彩。彼年伊申請著University of Victoria 攻讀MBA，我拄好嘛歇熱，伊提議講：『我導恁來去東岸行行咧。』
『溫哥華未曾看夠氣矣!』老父拄來半年無想欲振動。
『真好﹗我翻譯的詩稿已經完成了，去渥太華揣Timothy，伊答應欲幫我修改。』我是較有興趣。
研讀英文的時就落一个願---翻譯。張德本是我第一位想著的詩人，伊對一切虛偽的鄙相使我真感動。泰戈爾講：『Give me a day I will make the pomp to emperors ridiculous。』只要予伊時間，伊欲將帝王的氣派變成笑詼。虛偽一向是詩人看無起的代誌。台灣詩人參印度詩人總是有一粒時空相遇的詩心。
趕緊摘挽花果，避免予路過的風做晉前搶去。就按呢，阮三个人，十三工的多倫多（Toronto）、渥太華（Ottawa）、蒙特婁（Montreal）以及詩譯的旅行，就佇Landing溫哥華二冬半後向東爿飛行。
（二） 水中的岩石佮IONS
位太平洋到大西洋海岸寬度超過7700公里，開車愛兩禮拜。位Vancouver飛到Toronto大約5點鐘久，時差緊3小時。對天頂尾俯頭看超過百萬條包含全世界3分之1淡水供應量彎彎斡斡的河流、溪水、湖泊，面積大概臺灣277倍的這片曠闊的地球面，我若像行袂出「數大」的箍圍。橫切亞伯達省（Alberta）、薩克其萬省（Saskatchewan）、曼尼托巴省（Manitoba）到號做東岸含有面積上大、地標上懸(CN Tower)、市街上長(Young Street)，名列世界第三大英語系地區的安大略省（Ontario）。阿阮的頭站就是安大略省上現代化的省都——多倫多。
印地安人是上早來到北美洲的族群，安大略原名的意思『岩石懸懸徛佇水的附近。』是指尼加拉大瀑布（Niagara Falls）激流沖落岩石頂，每分鐘一億五百萬公升水量徛佇全世界的頭坎。源流輕湧平靜親像柔順的少女，一通過臨界線就直直沖落，若億馬奔騰怒衝。教科書的世界五大湖佮奇景尼加拉瀑布，現此時坐Maid of the Mist逆流咧行，體驗予水花噴澹的刺激，親像踏入去地理的軌道。
這个定定考的地理重要題目，這个大瀑布是美國、加拿大兩國的界線，中間予Goat Island 隔開。氣象萬千的部分攏呈現佇多倫多，這佮西部的Rocky Mountain 仝款，壯麗的這節嘛是倚佇溫哥華這面。會使按呢講，較豐沛的分佇加拿大這爿，較貧乏分佇美國彼爿，看來這種分配，上帝是有淡薄仔偏心。
位恐怖份子陸續出現，愛好和平的一寡美國國民嘛漸漸徙來北爿。這佮1776年美國佇獨立戰爭中起來反抗殖民者，當時效忠英國的國民開始向北搬徙，到加拿大開拓新生活有仝款的情形。
安大略是製造業的源頭，圍踅安大略湖西爿規畷路的城市是有名的加拿大的Golden Horseshore。Reto是後生瑞士藉的好友，伊手指正爿的漢米敦（Hamilton熔鐵佮煉鋼中心）目頭結結按呢講，彼个所在是上無媠的城市，人口有49萬。
『哇，真正是霧煙瘴氣，無輸阮的家鄉---高雄林園工業區。』
『美國底特律汽車工業所發出來的呔膏，隨時攏會飄流過來，雙層的烏煙致使予恁感覺誠無爽快。』
佳哉安大略湖有肚量共伊調解。湖大到內底猶閣有一粒島。渡輪橫過林內萬葉恬靜無聲，湖面流水親像慈母柔軟的胸坎。干礁我彼粒狂跳的心，毋知欲按怎來平靜。
最近讀著一篇 “Meteor-Psychology” 的報導，若像為家己的疑問揣著一寡答案。
”Meteor-psychologists are concerned with how the weather affects the behavior of people. One area of their concern is ions-balance.” 『I-O-N-S』正負離子的兩爿存在佇喘氣呼吸當中，氣候佮環境是影響平衡的主因。如果 IONS(正負離子)失去平衡就會損害人的生理佮心理。每遍拍開台灣電視，攏會看著一寡仔予人挫敗的畫面，我想這敢是参IONS有關係？
（三） 紡織袂煞的金色地毯
安大略省除了多倫多猶有首都渥太華，是聯邦政府的所在（加拿大採用聯邦、省府、佮市政三級制）。雖然是首都毋過機場的規模無大，位歐洲來的國際航線，大多數攏經過多倫多或者蒙特婁。阮位多倫多飛到遮，大約一點鐘久。落飛機了後，阮走徙佇公路頂面，對面是顫動心肝底的河流。這條十二公里長的Rideau Canal橫插佇市中心，伊的功能不止運輸，閣較是市容的心脈，冬天若到，就變做世界上長的溜冰場所。另外一頭，是面向Ottawa River所展開出來的百花典雅的市街，感受著首都被優待的情境。
渥太華（Ottawa），除了是加拿大最高機關設定的所在，另外猶有五十个國家大使館設佇遮，但是按怎就揣無著我上熟似的名——台灣，心情誠鬱卒。世界定定存在佇實名佮虛名之間，親像空氣摸袂著，卻無所不在。佳哉有人袂去注意伊的存在，總會有目光的人peh起來講話。2003年11月加拿大的議員Jeffrey Simpson有一篇重要的報告：「Taiwan exists in Canadian never-never land」 為台灣不平，伊講：Canada ought, in theory, to be supportive of Taiwan. Taiwan is democratic; China is not. Taiwan respects human rights; China does not in all instances…” 並且提出數據來說明Taiwan 比China較優質参對人權的尊重等等。伊質疑當時執政黨總理Chrétien Government 戇眩佇中國大市場，來疏忽本質的存在，因為台灣干單會當以 「representative」 毋是以「embassy」出現佇加拿大。
另外，加拿大民間閣有一項反應，予我這个台灣人聽起來誠順耳。你看in按怎反駁中共的歪理：『假使台灣真正屬於中國，按呢北京政權何必要求各國承認。比如海南島是中國領土袂當分割的一部份，中國根本毋免要求別國承認。翻頭來講，台灣若毋是中國的領土，中國就算四界去要求別國承認，實際上嘛無國際法的效果。若台灣是有紛爭的領土，中國也應該去揣佮這塊領土有關的當事國交涉佮承認才有效果。強迫無關係的第三國承認是無啥意義。』講甲中共雞嘴變鴨嘴。自按呢，中共只會當食包仔喝燒，毋敢閣要求別國承認台灣是中國的領土。
渥太華是一个充滿政治色彩的都市。中國大使館頭前法輪功抗議中國政府打壓；國際新聞媒體辦公廳外，一群爭取自由的西藏團體大聲抗議中國當局對人命的凌遲；美國大使館頭前規排看板寫著 ”Bring your soldiers home from around the world.” 是矣，予美國干涉的國家，欲的是老師佮醫生，毋是軍隊佮官員來約束in的社會行為；國會大樓廣場有扭一塊大布條寫著：”Bush is poisons.” 布希是毒藥！當然這是反戰者的心聲…啊！這个世界充滿啥物？汝若將汝的武器當做汝的上帝，每一擺汝的武器勝利的時，凡勢汝家己卻是失敗矣。
注目國會大樓頭前遐 ”Centennial Flame” 位1967年7月1日點灼了後火焰一直無熄化。1867年7月1日英國政府制定英國領土北美法律，正式承認加拿大自治權。百年火焰被十二片扇形花片撐懸浮佇水面，這敢是解除束縛了後自由飛泅的意思？
由哥德式的和平之塔（Peace of Tower）、上議院（Senate Chamber）、下議院（House of Commons）等三棟砂岩起造的國會大樓，運作規加拿大的政務 。Canada是大英國協成員，而且是君主立憲國。以大英國協內獨立國家總督為最高行政長官，代表英國女王伊莉莎白二世。總督由總理推薦、英國女王任命。現任總督是一位女性華人。事實遮只是象徵性的並無實權。加拿大人開始有人反對這種虛名，嘛有人歡喜女王是一種精神的代表。
維多利亞女王(Queen Victoria 1819-1901)塑像安祥穩坐踮大樓正爿，伊是現任女王伊莉莎白二世的查某祖。伊坐位的時，予英國成做世界上大的帝國。加拿大首都設置是由伊選定的。是Queen of English抑是Queen of Canada？嘛是我這个新移民的疑問。翻頭看歷史，英國政府確實欲將伊本身的形象來創造加拿大。連目前的閱兵(Changing of Guard) 儀式，差不多攏重現十九世紀英國皇家軍隊的風華。這款交接典禮佮開放參觀國會大樓，干單佇每年的7、8月才有的節目，看來阮是來對時陣矣。
國會大樓以外，首都另外一个最高政治機關——最高法院 (Supreme Court of Canada)，是阮這擺拜訪對象Timothy Ross Wilson 服務的所在。有瑞典血統的Timothy，法院的Legal Counsel，當咧無閒擬定Indian佮Canadian之間的法令。
『你的工課真重要，會使講是咧規範人民按怎做代誌。』
『毋是啦﹗是人民咧引導法令，阮只是安排欲按怎將法律運作較順事爾爾。佇恁的國家凡勢這是誠懸的職位，但是佇加拿大我是足小足小的公務人員。』
運河毋但供應兩岸的交流，閣較是市容喘氣的脈絡，毋過he流水卻謙卑講伊只是提供水的流動而已爾。
1941年建造的這棟法律最高的機關，拄好徛佇國會大樓倒手爿。殕色的樓瓦、白色的樓牆, 袂輸Art Deco的建築, 兩爿旗杆之一紅楓白底國旗懸懸徛踮渥太華的河墘。Timothy的助理親切為阮解說規个最高法院的審判的過程, 座位的順序……，位各市、省上訴到遮已經毋是普通的案件, 這个時陣門口另外一支旗杆國旗就會升起來表示有庭欲開。開庭的時, 其中魁北克省三位, 安大略省三位, 西部省(BC)二位以及大西洋省一位, 八位法官佮首席總共九位共同主持。判定罪嫌佮按怎維持國家的秩序, 內底粒積偌濟人的心血佮智慧. 阮三人聽到有小可霧煞煞, 我使目尾表示，咱就是代表台灣，愛展出好的禮節参風度，袂使予Timothy 的部屬感覺伊主管的朋友無暫節。Timothy的辦公桌仔頂有一句 “Old lawyers never die, they just lost their appeal”. 詼諧中帶著偌濟的警惕! 伊認真為加拿大最高法院作代誌的形，予我眞感動。
這擺行程除了Timothy 下班了後共同討論詩譯以外, 阮大部分的時間攏安排佇人文厚厚的殿堂之中。比如1880年建造的加拿大國立美術館(The National Gallery of Canada), 明潔光麗建築內就保留著加拿大現有上重要的收藏: 位雕刻佮銀器到1950年代新潮流, 位文藝復興佮巴洛克到印象派佮近代作品, 位唯美印象派到七人畫派小組, 位結構到解構拍破思考邏輯……等等。
日光一直那飛舞佇這塊充滿政治、法律、人文的自然水波頂, 親像永遠紡織袂煞的金色的地毯。渥太華的居民，in教育程度較高毋是無原因的。
（四）歷史的分合佮同性的解放
位渥太華坐Greyhound Bus 到蒙特婁大約2點半鐘。事實上,去蒙特婁晉前阮就蹛佇魁北克Hull區Timothy的厝。一條渥太華河將魁北克省佮安大略省隔開。1901年開放的Alexandra Bridge 扮演Ottawa River省参省中間的橋樑。 加拿大是雙語的國家,一到魁北克(法語區)看的著的是法語先,英文後,佮其他地區柱好倒反。魁北克是北美文明的源頭,融合到今仔日煞有一種佮北美無仝的文化。就算講政治佮加拿大相連, 但是遮的人認定in毋是加拿大的人。捌幾擺欲按算獨立，毋過加拿大大部份的人猶原向望國家會當整體來運作較妥當。
法國佮英國之間的結，佇早幾世紀以前就存在矣。翻頭看一下歷史，加拿大事實上是一部移民的拓荒史。移民總是綴著貿易,無仝的族群攏會為著主權的地位無斷咧發生挑戰。法國殖民地佇1700年建立, 特別沿著聖羅倫斯河 (St. Lawrence River).這个同時, 英國也位南方的殖民地向北方甚至佇法國所宣稱的領土上擴展。兩國對抗總算佇1759年有決定性的輸贏,英國拍敗法國。不而過，其中所造成袂平的心情時常存在佇生活內底咧相戰。
1967年法國總統戴高樂 (Charles de Gaulle) 佇蒙特婁市府 (Montreal City Hall) 樓台頂宣稱“Vive le Québec libre!”予魁北克永久的自由! 但是真正的自由, 是m̄耳單那外口的解脫,內底閣較愛開放。所以魁北克的居民內心所想猶原in永遠是法國人。這其中嘛產生一寡雙重性格的形成,佇心理上是加拿大人,佇感情上是法國人。 “People do not reveal themselves in their history, they struggle up through it”人無法度佇歷史的坱颺中掙脫來顯露家己, in只有會當佇滾絞中去貫迵歷史，這凡勢是人類共同的宿命吧!
後生學著戴高樂的扮勢按呢講“予台灣永久的自由!”當然台灣已經是民主國家, 但是自由的背後, 敢是也閣有內外雙層的難題? 不但外圍有一味無所不在的亂流咧干擾,內底的政治吵鬧，嘛予台灣人民付出低級的生活代價。
人類的歷史，一个接一个按呢向前行。透過先人的跤步,勾出時光的跡痕,一百年、二百年、四百年……，魁北克的人看重數目背後的意義, 所以拼勢維護古蹟用行動記載歷史,並且將成果驕傲的展示佇每一个人的眼前。就佇Alexandra Bridge 邊仔, 加拿大文明博物館(Canadian Museum of Civilization) 以現場表演佮活潑透視畫描出上早的歐洲移民到移民先驅的二度創造。阮觀賞趄閣崎的諾曼式裝潢,厝頂尾開的天窗, 親像17、18 世紀過往繁華閣活靈靈的重現，以及19世紀尾華人陸續徙入,佇1947年所實行的排華法案中,按怎以骨力孤單來經營洗衫店生活開始，到如何拼出一片天地……加拿大大量保留這寡的文化遺產，實在予人誠佩服。
蒙特婁佇魁北克省西南爿, 佇聖羅倫斯河中的島嶼頂面。用伊歐洲的風格,四輦馬車走踅,馬羶味隨風飄送,古典佮現代参咧行, 以及歷史文化特有的氣質,閣是另外一款新的豐采。Art Deco 建築的樸素、對稱、平衡、飼飽我這个傳統閣現代的台灣女子的興趣。舊年後生就已經來遮行一畷了, 彼時伊就親像著災仝款迷戀起來, 彼款愛戀的程度予人懷疑伊就是前世人捌佇遮生存過。
阮陶醉佇法國氣氛的Place Jacques Cartier啉咖啡，Jacques Cartier 是發現蒙特婁的一个法國人;行踅佇四箍笠仔滿滿是的藝術品享受飯食;散步佇舊市街 (Old Montreal) 這个予聯合國教科文組織定做重要的文化遺產, 阮若像教科書內底的主角; 親身來到1967年佮1976年捌舉辦過的萬國博覽會的會場, 感受一寡仔運動員的心跳; 行佇無論是東方或者是西方的美術精品参一系列的博物館, 一世人位冊本讀著的精彩部分, 即馬一个一个出現佇我的面頭前、手蹄仔內; 参觀佇北美洲上媠的教堂「聖母大教堂(Notre-Dame Basilica)」, 心中眞实體會著上帝是無分東西方, 一踏入聖地莊嚴氣味自然浮起, 干單有一點仔無夠媠氣, 禮拜日有界線免費進入, 避免干擾當咧做禮拜的人, 但是一个中國人（觀光客？）毋插別人的警告搖搖擺擺傱入內, 是伊聽無英文抑是本能的霸道行為? 假使世界存有種族的輕視, 予人歧視的民族敢愛負大部分的責任?
1992年才開放的考古佮歷史博物館(Pointe-à-Calliére, Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History) 是一个眞特別的展示館, 就是佇原來的所在，一層一層挖出先民佇冰河時期按怎沿著聖羅倫斯河，一步一跤印的遷徙佮探險。原來現此時跤踏的柱仔好，就是當時 Public Market的所在. 拱型石頭建築,粗形導管,海關運作,天主教公墓 ……18世紀在地人的生活現場一一顯現出來。即馬的人好玄想欲懷念古早, 若按呢，現此時阮敢毋是幾世紀以後的古人? 囥佇古代的石頭頂有一个玻璃櫃,內面裝著目前上流行的物件，像牛仔褲、電腦、家具形狀、建築圖樣……等等，幾仔塊金磁片供應百年後的人來研究。後代的研究者看來是比現在的考古的人較輕鬆! 只要有人類存在, 這條生命的河流一定源源袂停! 只是千變萬化的思考敢會當裝入去磁片內? 原來台灣導演黃明川一系列拍攝詩人、藝術家的影音紀錄、地景風貌，這敢毋是真真正正咧為台灣做一項重要的工程?
人類生活習慣攏愛共動物看作“物”來使用, 其實動物也會使將人當作“物”來拍派。人過「馬路」嘛會使講是馬咧過「人路」;人使用電腦的時利用「滑鼠」來運作，嘛會使按呢講，鳥鼠利用「滑人」來運作。到底結構或者是解構? 到底傳統或者是顛覆傳統? 同性戀早就存在佇人類的歷史,卻總是佇人類習慣數大的異性戀當中變形。 離開蒙特婁彼工拄好遇著同志大遊行.“ Love without borders”愛無界限,愛永遠無拍折,為“愛”爭取上基本的人權。
就算對性別角色應該保持開放的心態; 嘛愛經過醫生證實同性戀是一出世就按呢，毋是受著後日的影響;自古以來出現一寡傑出同性戀的藝術家、政治家、哲學家，但是大部分的人猶原屈服佇傳統的人倫、食人的禮教参一寡欠缺同理的包容心。今年加拿大總理選舉保守黨就敗佇伊反對同性戀婚姻。美國總統布希猶咧反對同性戀婚姻. 可愛的加拿大已經通過同性結婚合法的法律,比美國閣較開放自由!
加拿大的國歌按呢唱,「以熱情的心, 阮看著你興旺(With glowing hearts we see thee rise)：真誠的北方強大閣自由(The True North strong and free!)」。
（五）內層的聖殿
位東岸轉來西岸,我的跤步輕輕溜徙佇時間的軌道。我這个新厝温哥華被傳頌著: Want a long life? Move to Vancouver(欲長壽? 搬去溫哥華)。佇28的所在人口調查的顯示: 溫哥華的居民平均壽命81.1歲, 已經佇OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) list 出現佮世界上懸的日本81.2歲無啥輸贏, 以按呢算來: 卡加立 80, 魁北克79.8, 安大略 77.3, 美國76.8, 愛爾蘭76.7……，欲按怎算? 傷過複雜, 但是離袂開內在參外圍的因素。
歇跤佇這塊上帝特別疼顧的春花夏綠秋紅冬雪的大地, 我已經採集所欲愛的繁花果實囉, 只是滿籃的飽滇同時也沉重起來。父母的習性攏佇太平洋he烏潮所形成彼个特殊的島嶼, in敢知查某囝移民的國度? 抑我喜怒哀樂的記持攏刻佇彼片23.5度北回歸線的土地---臺灣。經過悲佮喜的面盤, 我聽著永久的母親咧輕聲歌唱，自按呢我有淡薄仔憂愁起來，雖然我跤踏佇一个四是的所在。後生指著早紅的楓葉，講彼叢樹仔有够像老母, 因為敏感過度, 秋天猶未踏跤到, 就神經質的提早變色。
電影“永遠佮一日(Eternity and A Day)”, 彼个出世佇義大利的希臘詩人,為著欲呼應希臘革命的時用的母語創作, 閣再轉來祖國逐句用錢買轉來。伊是予時空綁票去了, 致使母語離伊遠遠遠。
這坎站，我想著詩人張德本對時間的敏感, 伊有按呢的詩句:
時間佇結構中衰敗,
時間佇解構中存在,
空間一向佮伊共謀.
我共伊翻作按呢：
Time is ruined by the integration
Time exists by the disintegration
Space always collude with it
我會遮呢佮意伊的詩除了辯証以外，就是文字的對稱佮張力,但是 Timothy 卻共伊改作按呢:
Time is ruined by togetherness
Time exists through coming apart
Space is time’s ally
意義無變毋過漢文的媠若像減半去矣。阮總共完成43首, 其中討論發生袂少的取捨,逐工攏超過睏眠的時間。Timothy堅持伊西方用語的習慣,我偏向保留漢文意境的特殊韻律。
“漢文佮英文的思考邏輯無啥相仝,汝翻譯的目的敢毋是欲予英文世界的人看? 詩本來就無好翻, 但是以汝的毅力已經將伊克服矣!”後生看我参Timothy咧爭論，伊走出來講話。
適當的時機後生伊會出現,伊無參與我佮Timothy 的討論。 伊佇邊仔我會貧憚, 畢竟講漢文比講英文緊閣順嘴。後生的用心,就親像彼當年我勺故意拖長暗頓的時間，通好予in姊弟仔加練寡琴的心情仝款!
這幾年來一頭栽入去英文的世界, 嘛被 B.C. 省上嚴格的學院VCC 訓練甲烏天暗地。有一工雄雄著驚對漢文的生份,敢會淪落到愛用金錢買轉來，親像彼个希臘詩人仝款! 事實證明, 伊自本就釘根存在佇我的腦海中。Timothy猶咧等我用英文寫這擺的旅行Account of the Trip East. 我敢會使? 我敢有需要?
我只是地球表面的一个旅客，旅客必須挵開地球另外一面的彼扇門, 終其尾才會當達到上內層的聖殿。
Timothy and Louise
Timothy於2010.5過世. 貼這篇「地球後面彼扇門」算作是記念伊的.
因為伊，阮才有這趟東岸之行。因為伊，我才有欲翻台灣詩人作品的念頭。因為伊，我才有氣力來英文創作, 伊佇我創作的生命中扮演重要的角色。但是伊已經無佇這个世間了。不但我失去一个良師益友，Supreme Court of Canada 嘛失去一个優秀的 Legal Counsel. 我無可能會像「伯牙斷琴」仝款, 但是今後有啥人會當赫呢認眞讀我的英文創作呢!
Foreign Door by Lee Hsiu
1. The key of flowers
Indian poet Rebindranath Tagore who won the Nobel Prize in 1913, said, “Pluck this little flower and take it. Delay not! I fear lest it droop and drop into the dust.” He wanted all people with high aspirations to have this consciousness of time. It is true, heartless time seems like never – ending flowing water, if you don’t pay attention, you will unexpectedly find your energy fading away and your buddies gone.
My son has the motto, “Seize the day, and make life extraordinary.” He asks for his parents to have the same idea as well. This year, he was accepted into the University of Victoria to study the MBA program. I am also ready for a summer vacation, so he suggests a trip to eastern Canada.
But his father doesn’t want to move anywhere, since he just arrived in Vancouver for six months, He feels dispirited about the suggestion, because he hasn’t had enough living in Vancouver yet. However, I am so excited that I say, “It is a good idea. We are planning to go to Ottawa to visit Timothy, who gave me his promise that he will correct my translation works.”
Since I started studying the English language, I have had the wish to do a translation of poetry from Chinese to English. I first think about Chang Te-Pen, who is a Taiwanese poet. His poetry also has a consciousness of time, with words such as “Time is ruined by togetherness. Time exists through coming apart. Space is time’s ally”. In the same way, Tagore wrote the following words, “Give me a day I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous.” This means, as long he is given enough time, he will change the empire from majestical to nonsensical. Tagore and Te-Pen have the same sense of shame about hypocrisy.
Accordingly, we will quickly gather flowers, to avoid the wind plundering them first. So, after two years in Vancouver, we three take a trip to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, and I bring my poetry translation works for my son’s friend Tim to look at.
2. Water, rock and ions
Canada is the second-largest country in the world, stretching over 7700 Kilometers from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic seacoast. Flying from Vancouver to Toronto takes approximately five hours. The time difference is three hours. Looking into the distance from a high place I see a lot of fresh water, rivers, mountain streams, and lakes. It is a vast area on the earth about 277 times the size of Taiwan.
We travel across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to our first stop, the capital of Ontario, Toronto, which has the highest landmark - CN Tower, the longest city street - Yonge Street and Canada’s most important business district. The city of Toronto is not only both typically English Canadian and North American, but it also serves as the economic center for the entire country.
The First Nations was the first racial group to arrive in North America. The source of the name of Ontario is “the rock stands among the waters”. The famous Niagara Falls, where Lake Erie overflows into Lake Ontario at the rate of 14 million liters of water per minute, has always been the most celebrated feature of the escarpment. The original current of the river that meets the Falls seems like a mild-mannered tranquil young girl. On the other hand, there is a group of a hundred million horses that gallop and splash when they go over the vertical line of the falls. The most popular and perhaps the best way to approach the Falls is on the Maid of the Mist. Wearing hooded raincoats, we are boated up to the table rock scenic tunnels under the Falls for a spectacular experience under the water of the Falls. I feel like I am dreaming that I have entered the Geography Book I studied in high school.
Niagara Falls stretches between the American and Canadian borders separated by Goat Island. However the spectacular part of the Falls is in Canada. The American Falls are boring. Similarly, the Rocky Mountains of western Canada are the fantabulous part, whereas the American Rockies are not so interesting. For this reason, I consider God has been a little prejudiced about the assignments of the beautiful monuments.
Since the terrorist attack on the USA, some of the peace-loving Americans have moved north to Canada. This situation is similar to the 1776 American War of Independence when many who preferred to stay loyal to the British crown started to move north and develop a new life in Canada.
Ontario is an important manufacturing industrial area. Surrounding the west coast of Lake Ontario is a succession of industrial cities known as the famous Canadian Golden Horseshoe. Reto, who is my son’s friend in Toronto, refers to “Hamilton” as the ugliest city in Ontario.
“Wow, it is really heavily polluted. It is as bad as our hometown Kaohsiung Linyuen industrial district,” I agree.
“The automobile industry pollution also wafted up from Detroit, so this double pollution is the reason you guys feel more uncomfortable,” Reto explains.
Even though the city’s steel mills and other heavy industries have given Hamilton a grim image in the minds of many, there is history wherever you decide to look for it. For example, Hamilton installed the first telephone exchange in the British Empire - the eighth in the world - in 1878, only four years after Alexander Graham Bell invented the device. It was at his parents’ home in nearby Brantford that Bell dreamed up his invention. Because I worked for the Telephone Company in Taiwan, it is exciting to find out the background of the telephone inventor.
In fact, the water of Lake Ontario is good enough to balance Toronto’s steel environment. Moreover, in the middle of the lake is a fantastic place - Toronto Island. It juts out into the city’s harbor and is only about 19 minutes away by leisurely ship, so we ferry the lake to walk around the silent trees and the quiet shore of the lake. Like the meeting of the seagulls and the waves we meet and come near.
My heart sings with the touch of the water and my thoughts shimmer with these shimmering leaves; my life is glad to be floating with all things into the clarity of space. Actually, I had these feelings about Canada’s great beauty since I landed in this maple country - Canada. However, I have no idea how to stop the regret in my heart because I think about my beautiful home country Taiwan whenever I enjoy being here.
Recently I read a report entitled “Meteor - Psychology” and seemed to find some answers. “Meteor-psychologists are concerned with how the weather affects the behavior of people. One area of their concerns is ion-balance”. Indeed, ions are electric charges that exist in the atmosphere, in the air that we breathe. As a result, the weather and environment affects human being’s behavior; hence, if ions (positive and negative ions) go out of control, this will affect people’s physiology and psychology. Each time I turn on the Taiwanese TV news, my compatriots’ behavior frustrates me. Is this related to ions?
3. Restless tiny shuttles weaving golden carpet
Toronto and Ottawa are the most important cities of the province of Ontario. The nation’s capital, Ottawa, is the seat of the Federal government. Canada has three levels of government: federal, provincial and municipal. Although Ottawa is Canada’s capital, the airport isn’t a big one. The people come in from Europe, mostly by way of Toronto or Montreal.
We fly from Toronto to Ottawa in one hour. Along the road near the airport, we also face a twelve kilometer long river – the Rideau Canal, which runs through the town center. Its function is not only for transportation, but is also the pulse of the city. Created in 1937, its design emphasizes the area’s natural beauty and molds the city around it. Pleasure craft wend their way through the downtown center’s parks in summer, yet winter turns the same Rideau Canal route into an ice-skating rink.
On the other side of the city is the elegant Ottawa River. Because of its national stature, Ottawa has more cultural resources and political systems, such as the Parliament buildings, the residences of prime ministers, governor-generals and foreign ambassadors.
Unfortunately, even though there are over 50 embassies, I do not see the name of Taiwan. In this world sometimes a solid name exists but an unwarranted reputation keeps it invisible, just as air is actually omnipresent, but you cannot see or touch it.
Luckily, there is someone who upholds justice. There is a report “Taiwan exists in Canadian never-never land” by Jeffrey Simpson. He said, “Canada ought, in theory, to be supportive of Taiwan. Taiwan is democratic; China is not. Taiwan respects human rights; China does not in all instances…” He also proposed that Taiwan respects human rights more than China. He regrets that the Chrétien Government yielded to China’s big market and neglected the acknowledgement of Taiwan’s existence, resulting in Taiwan being only present by “representative” not “embassy” in Canada.
We stare at the “Centennial Flame” in front of the Parliament Buildings which was ignited on July 1, 1967, never to be extinguished; indeed, according to The British North America Act in 1867, England’s government recognized Canada as a Dominion on July 1, 1867. A hundred years passed before the Centennial Flame was ignited. For this reason, the Centennial Flame is floating in water. It seems like a permanent reminder of the unbounded optimism of the Centennial Year.
There are Gothic styles of architecture, including the Peace Tower, the Senate Chamber, and House of Commons. The sandstone architecture of the Parliament Building governs the entire Canadian government affairs. Canada is a member of the British Commonwealth and a constitutional monarchy country. The governor general, as the highest chief executive, represents Queen of Elizabeth the second. In fact, the governor general is only a symbol and hasn’t any real power. Some Canadians oppose this kind of unwarranted reputation, yet some people are glad that the Queen is a kind of spiritual symbol.
The statue of Queen Victoria (1819-1901) stands in front of the Parliament Buildings. England had the biggest empire in the world during the reign of Queen Victoria, who was Queen Elizabeth’s great grandmother. She chose Ottawa as her capital in Canada. I have no idea if she is the Queen of England or Queen of Canada. It confuses me as a newcomer. Looking back at history, indeed, England tries to create Canada in her own image. The city itself is stately, a miniature of an old English town. For example, we can watch the ceremony of the Changing of the Guards that originated in 19th century imperial England.
Besides the Parliament Buildings, the Supreme Court is another part of the capital’s highest political organ and is also where our friend Timothy has his office. Supreme Court Legal Counsel Timothy Ross Wilson, who is not only good at law, he taught English and French at the University of Ottawa. He took a business trip to Vancouver last year. He had a chance to read my translated Chinese-English work, “The Scenery of the City When you Left” which is one of Chang Te-Pen’s poems. Then he showed promise as an editor for me. His encouragement to me is like a window and a lighted lamp, but there is a big job behind it. As a result, it entices me into this journey.
“You handle affairs of the Canadian people. Your job is very important in Canada,” I say when he is drawing up documents between the First nations and Canadian law.
“No. Law is guided by the people. We only follow the people. Perhaps in your country this job is a high position, but it isn’t here.”
It is true, the canal humbles to think that rivers exist solely to provide water. In fact, it does not only supply both sides with connection through its bridge, but it also beautifies the appearance of the city.
The Supreme Court Building was constructed in 1941 where it is located on the left side of Parliament Hill. The maple flag to the west is hoisted daily. The other flag flies only when the Court is sitting. Holding a court session, there have nine members to administer it. Their decisions are distributed throughout the whole country. By law, at least three judges are appointed from Ontario, two from the Western Provinces, one from the Atlantic Provinces and one Chief.
How to judge a criminal? How to keep guard over the country? It should take many people’s painstaking care and wisdom. There are these words on the sofa in Timothy’s office, “Old lawyers never die, they just lose their appeal.” It seems to be a teasing message but seriously suggests that vigilance is important.
The main idea of this trip is to discuss my translation works with Timothy after he is off duty. Therefore, most of the time when he is on duty we are immersed in the arts centers of Ottawa. For example, the foremost gallery in Canada, made primarily out of glass, “The National Gallery” was built in the 1880s. It retains a series of the most important collections, such as works of art from the age of carving, silver tea sets from the 16th century and the new wave art of 1950s, from the renaissance to the impressionist art movements and the modern works; from the 18th European painting to the Group of Seven; from integration to disintegration and breaking of logic, etc.
Sunlight dances on this city making political, legal and humanistic ripples like restless tiny shuttles weaving a golden carpet. The capital of Canada, Ottawa, seems the quintessence of English Canada.
4. The weight of history and the liberation of homosexuality
We take a Greyhound Bus for two hours from Ottawa to Montreal. In fact, we are staying in Hull in Timothy’s home before we go to Montreal. Hull is a typical small Quebec City. The Ottawa River is the boundary between Ontario and Quebec. Traveling across the Alexandra Bridge, built in 1941, signifies not only crossing the Ontario-Quebec border, but also the cultural borders within the country.
Canada is a bilingual country. On Alexandra Bridge, languages suddenly change. Now that we are in Quebec, French is the first language. Indeed, on the bridge we are confronted with the reality of Canada’s “two solitudes”. Even though they are politically connected with Canada, Quebec people still consider themselves more connected to France than Canada. Thus they were in a ferment to achieve independence several times, but the strong Canadian desire to achieve a united nation defeated the campaigns for Quebec’s separation from Canada.
In fact, the ancient animosities between England and France have been going on for several centuries. The weight of history was upon new world Canada from its inception. North America was a battleground for the English and French to pursue imperial war. In Canada the French colony was established in 1700. They tended to settle along the banks of the St. Lawrence, in the area now known as Quebec. At the same time, the English also established themselves farther inland, initially in the Great Lakes region. Both countries’ resistance finally ended up with a decisive victory and defeat in 1759, with England defeating France. However, the history of resistances still continues in Quebec.
Take the case of Montreal City Hall, which has a more turbulent history than its peaceful façade suggests. It was from its balcony that French President General de Gaulle uttered his famous “Vive le Quebec libre!” (Long Live Free Quebec) during a state visit in 1967. The truth of liberation exists only on the periphery of Quebec people’s lives, but they have an intrinsic sense of freedom. The Quebec people regard themselves as French; thus they have a dual personality that feels both the Canadian and French . Consequently, people do not learn about themselves in their history, they struggle up through it. Perhaps this is humanity’s common destiny.
My son soon learns General de Gaulle’s declaration and says, “Long Live Free Taiwan!” Actually, Taiwan is already a democracy, yet there are both inside and outside difficulties - outside from China’s armed threat, inside from different political conflicts. Therefore, Taiwan truthfully still needs to struggle to be free.
Human history goes forward in taking the place of the fallen. Residents settle down according to ancestors’ path and they also outline the path of time. One hundred years, two hundred years, four hundred years…Quebec people regard the significance of the number, so they maintain diligently their sense of history and they actually present their achievements in front of each visitor.
For instance, the Canadian Museum of Civilization is located at nearby Alexandra Bridge. There are actors on site who portray the immigrants from Europe that settled in Quebec, showing their lively perspective. The Museum presents the next generation of pioneer being born in Canada. We visit the steep Norman type architecture of their villages. It seems like we are living back in 17th or 18th century. We also experience the end of 19th century immigration of the Chinese who struggled in a hard-working laundry life; indeed Canada successfully retains many cultural heritages.
Surrounded by the waters of the St. Lawrence centering on the mountain and penetrated by a maze of subterranean shopping plazas and passages, Montreal is an unusually three-dimensional city. Moreover, Old Montreal is the living witness of Canadian history.
The first example is the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History which opened in 1992. In front of the Museum, Place Royale relives its glorious past as a meeting place, with outdoor activities even in winter. Here, there is an 18th-century Public Market. We have a unique experience, combining fun and history, high technology and treasures from the past.
It is true, we have a vision of how the ice-age ancients were striving along Saint Lawrence River step by step to explore this big new land. Now we curiously trace the period of the ancient. After many centuries passing, we will become the ancient to the next generation as well. There is a glass cabinet on an antique stone, I find out that inside the glass are displayed our most popular things at this time, such as jeans, computer, furniture blueprints of building styles…and so on. In fact, it is good for the future to provide information to our generation after generation of descendants.
Another example is a major gathering place and entertainment site in Old Montreal where we enjoy street artists and relish the French atmosphere as we drink a cup of coffee in Place Jacques Cartier who first discovered Montreal. We wander through the old streets with me again feeling like a leading character of a textbook, because here there is the important cultural heritage of the Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization of the United Nations. We linger over whether there is an Eastern or Western fine art high-quality works which we read about in our text books in Taiwan. Now we can actually see it through our own eyes; we also kneel down in North America in the most beautiful church (Notre-Dame Basilica).
Is it possible to find a country where the beauty, the history, and the variety in the scenery are combined in such perfect harmony? My son came to Montreal seeking a university to study at last year. This city with its extraordinary personality attracted him so deeply it was as if he had lived a previous life here. As a result, he is like an old horse who knows the way; his parents can have a smooth trip and visit many special small places.
Finishing our visit to Montreal brings an end to our trip. The day of World Pride is just when we want to leave Montreal. It is true that there is love without borders, the struggle of millions of individuals across the globe for self-fulfillment for the possibility to be who they are and to follow their heart and their identity. However, many people are too busy doing good so they find no time to be good, because they consider homosexuality is bad for society and they are absolutely in opposition to homosexual behavior.
Even though people should hold an open view to the sex role and doctors have already confirmed that homosexuality is from birth, most people still submit to the traditional attitude of intolerance. Compare U.S.A. with Canada, and we will see which has more freedom. As an example, the issue of same-sex marriage is illegal in the U.S.A. Yet this issue is legal in Canada. O Canada! Our home and native land! With glowing hearts we see thee rise. The True North strong and free!
5. Inner Shrine
Returning from east to west, my footsteps lithely slide in the time track. My new home Vancouver is praised by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, “Want a long life? Move to Vancouver.” According to a census of twenty-eight metropolises as presented to the OECD, the mean life expectancy of Vancouver residents is 81.1 years. The world’s longest lifetime of Japanese which is 81.2 years is almost equally matched. The rest can be deduced accordingly: Calgary 80, Quebec 79.8, Ontario 77.3, US 76.8, and Ireland 76.7, etc. How is this calculated? It is a complicated issue because there are many inner and outer factors.
Fortunately I am living in the most colorful land of the earth; red in autumn, white in winter, light green in spring, and dark green in summer. Now I am content with my life and I have plucked the numerous colorful flowers that I want. Nevertheless, while I bring in a harvest, I also have a heavy heart. I ponder long and deeply over the matter of whether my dear passed away parents are used to their daughter moving so far away to another country, because they spent their whole life on that special island - Taiwan. In fact, memories of my laughter, anger, sorrow, and happiness are wholly inscribed in the land of Taiwan; indeed, through the satisfaction and sadness of all things I hear the crooning of the Eternal Mother. My son teases me that I seem like some red maple leaf that results in excessive sensitivity. The autumn has not arrived yet she changes color early.
The movie “Eternity and a Day” is a story of the time when a Greek poet is born in Italy and he decides to use his mother tongue to write. Therefore, he returns to his motherland to spend money to buy back the sentences. He has been kidnapped by the space and time, so that the mother tongue went far away from him. Here is Taiwanese poet Chang Te-Pen writing about time sensitivity. I translate it like this,
Time is ruined by integration.
Time exists by disintegration.
Space is time’s ally.
His works are not only being dialectical but they also have the beauty of symmetry. Yet Timothy alters to his words like this,
Time is ruined by the integration.
Time exists through coming apart.
Space is time’s ally.
The significance is invariable no matter which words are chosen, yet the beauty of the Chinese is reduced a lot.
We complete forty-three translations on this trip. We discuss how to achieve really perfect translation. Sometimes, Timothy persists in the western terminology, but I am partial to the retention of the special rhythm of the Chinese condition.
“Ways of expressing logic totally differ between English and Chinese. But, even though the poetry is difficult to translate into another language, you can still eventually overcome it. To touch the main idea is good enough,” my son says.
I fell in love with English in Taiwan a long time ago, and I also trained at Vancouver Community College for 4 years. This is one of the strictest language schools in B.C.
I fear that one day I will not be able to write an article in Chinese or Taiwanese. Do I need to spend money to buy it back like that Greek poet in the “Eternity and a Day”?
Indeed, I am only a passenger on earth’s surface. The passenger has to knock at every foreign door to come to his or her own, and one has to wander through all the outer worlds to reach the innermost shrine at the end.