The Wedding Dance
佚名 / Anonymous
The hand that clasps mine is not that of the child I can still remember, but that of the man he has become. From that hand to his face to the smile he beams at me, he is his father in days gone by. We move gracefully across the floor as his young bride looks on. My new daughter. Oh, how the years have passed! It seems I didn’t even notice. One day, I held a squalling infant in my exhausted arms and counted tiny pink fingers and toes. The next, I’m no longer the most important woman in his life.
An effortless spin and he’s taking me across the floor with a flare like his father’s. I wonder if he’s looking down on us at this moment as my son’s eyes sparkle with his mischief. Suddenly, I’m bent backward and laughing like a girl half my age, my young rogue leaning over me and guests applauding. He kisses my cheek and spins me upright again. The regretful tears of the past threaten my eyes.
No, they are not regretful tears. I have no regrets where this boy—this man—is concerned. He has been, and always will be, my pure joy. Time cannot wipe away the sadness and heartache, but there was never regret! Heartache comes with having children as it does with being alive. If my son is all he wants to be, I have no regrets.
As the music slows, his mood seems to waver. Knowing that if I see any of what I’m feeling in his eyes I will surely cry, I move into his arms and rest my head on his strong shoulder. A hush has descended on the entire room; not even the babies are fussing. The gentle piano guides us around the floor, passed faces that have always been near, and new ones destined for the same. Their smiles bring one to my face as I realize this is not a day for tears. The hand against my back gives me a squeeze. It is a most subtle gesture to let me know my new daughter’s turn to care for him has come.
It is not a day for tears, but they threaten nonetheless. I sigh and touch his smooth cheek, seeing the face of a baby, child, teen, and man. Is this day so difficult for all mothers? I can’t help wondering. As the music switches with ease to the one, he chose to dance to with his bride, I turn and find her shy face with my other hand. I can’t speak to either, but I know that my heart is in my eyes as each receives my kiss.
Walking to the edge of the floor, I suddenly realize I do have one regret today. I regret that my husband is not here to hold my hand.
他握着我的手，他已成为一个男人，不再是我记忆中的孩子了。随着岁月的流逝，从他的手到脸，还有他冲我微笑的样子，都越来越像他的父亲。我们沿着地板优雅地踏着舞步，他年轻的新娘站在旁边看着我们。我有新女儿了！噢，不知不觉已过去了许多年。那天，我还疲惫不堪地抱着一个哇哇啼哭的婴儿，数着他粉红的小手指和小脚趾。现在，我却再也不是他生命中最重要的女人了。
他像他爸爸当年一样，时而轻盈旋转，时而带着我风也似的大踏步舞动。不知他爸爸是否在看着我们，此刻儿子调皮地眨着眼睛。突然，他搂住我的腰，使我的身体后倾，我笑了起来，这笑声与我年龄一半大小的女孩子发出的一样爽朗。儿子这个小淘气顺势贴近我，宾客们鼓起掌来。他吻了我的面颊后，扶我起身。回首逝去的往昔，我差点流下了遗憾的泪水。
不，那不是遗憾的泪水。对这个孩子，这个男人，没什么值得遗憾的。他一直是，也将永远是我欢乐的源泉。时间抹不去那些悲伤和心痛，但是没什么可遗憾的，正如活着就会有伤心的时刻一样，有孩子也会有伤心。既然我的儿子已经成了自己想做的人，我也就没什么可遗憾的了。
音乐节奏渐缓，他的情绪也开始变化。如果从他眼中能看出他理解我此刻的感觉，我肯定会哭出来的。想到这些，我不禁投入他的怀抱，把头靠在他宽厚的肩膀上。整个房间一下安静了，就连婴儿都停止了哭闹。柔情的钢琴曲开始让我们在地板上旋转，经过那些熟悉和陌生的面孔。他们的微笑也引我发笑，让我意识到今天不是哭泣的日子。儿子的手在背后推了我一下，这个微妙的动作让我知道，该轮到我的新女儿照顾他了。
这个日子不该哭泣，但是眼泪却要落下来。我叹了口气，摸了摸他光滑的脸庞，看着这张从婴儿，到儿童、再到少年，最后变成大人的脸。是不是这一天对于做母亲的来说都很难过呢？我情不自禁地这样想。随着钢琴曲渐渐过渡到儿子特意挑选来和新娘伴舞的音乐，我转过身看见新娘脸上露出害羞的神色，她拉着我的另一只手。我不能对他们中的任何一个说话，但我知道，当我吻他俩时，他们能从我的眼中读出我心里的想法。
走到舞池尽头时，我突然意识到，今天确实有件遗憾的事—— 丈夫没能在这里牵着我的手。
记忆填空
1. It I didn’t even notice. One day, I a squalling infant in my exhausted arms and counted tiny pink fingers and toes. The , I’m no longer the most important in his life.
2. No, they are regretful tears. I have no regrets this boy—this man—is concerned. He has been, and always be, my pure joy. Time cannot wipe away the sadness and heartache, there was never regret! Heartache comes with having as it does with being alive. If my son is all he to be, I have no regrets.
佳句翻译
1. 随着岁月的流逝，从他的手到脸，还有他冲我微笑的样子，都越来越像他的父亲。
2. 时间抹不去那些悲伤和心痛，但是没什么可遗憾的，正如活着就会有伤心的时刻一样，有孩子也会有伤心。
3. 这个日子不该哭泣，但是眼泪却要落下来。
短语应用
1. I wonder if he’s looking down on us at this moment as my son’s eyes sparkle with his mischief.
look down：俯视；向下看；用目光慑服某人
2. Heartache comes with having children as it does with being alive.
do with：利用，处理；需要；忍受；与……相处
