Family and friends gather to shower me with good wishes
Their caring and affection to my heart’s valley rushed
Henry a student now seventy made a beautiful cake for the occasion
Decorated with mango and berries it gave all present great satisfaction
Christine sang two songs Because and One Day When… in her best tune
She remembers my favorite melodies I mentioned in class once in June
Teaching is a lifelong experience so very enriching
A teacher opens his heart to students enabling learning and reaching
In turn students welcome the teacher into them sharing everything
Wonders are seeing a variety of students develop into fine human beings
And to encounter them again years later fond memories in vivid motion
I made a brief speech expressing my bulging gratitude and satisfaction
To friendship and life and teaching opportunities a precious venue
Images of thousands of students impinge on mind in review
Like students showing shock and red eyes the day of Kennedy’s assassin
Like shouting cheers when the Gang of Four is captured to jail locked in
Like ideas I taught appearing in Beijing parades as slogans for opening and reforms
Like meeting Ian unexpectedly in a Damascus street donning a soldier uniform
Like hearing a seasoned nun at mid-term my ideas intruded her dreams every night
Like Beatrice who visited me in old age to thank me for inspiring a peaceful life
Like on home-coming day students rush to present me their stories and children
Like receiving letters from readers of my writings presenting their new vision
Intense exchange of thoughts and feelings are enriching always
And my wealth include having lifelong associations in more than one way
When Christine sang the stave because you speak to me in accent sweet
Everyone present joined to sing I find roses waking around my feet
And I am let through tears and joy to thee
We then applaud to remember our togetherness in glee
Because by Mario Lanza; One Day When We Were Young by Winnie Wei