They are good kids. They are angels. They are blossoming flowers. Yet, it’s like they withered when the 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit Southwest China’s Sichuan Province on May 12, 2008. The calamitous disaster stopped the country cold. The death of so many young students strikes every Chinese the hardest. Overwhelmed with sadness, people have written woeful poems to mourn the children who died in the terrible quake.

Hold Mum’s hand tight!

Hurry, my dearest,

Hold Mum’s hand tight.

The path to Heaven is dark.

Mum is afraid

You might stumble

On the lonely way without light.

 

Hurry, my dearest,

Hold Mum’s hand tight.

Let Mum escort you with all my might.

Mum is afraid

The path to Heaven is too dark.

 

Since collapsed walls occluded sunlight,

Your sweet eyes

And tender hands

Have been out of my sight.

But, my dearest,

Nothing to be scared about.

There’s no grief in the heaven high.

No more school work to do

And Dad’s scolding fist will no more bite.

 

My dearest,

Remember what Mum and Dad look like.

We will reunite in the life after

As the same family holding each other tight.

 

Mum, do not cry.

It’s crowded on the path to Heaven,

Teachers and schoolmates on my sides.

We tell each other

Not to cry

Because there’re many Mums in the heaven high.

Mum!