39 death and dying 死與死亡的過程 Sí kap sí-bông ê kòe-thêng
Thiaⁿ-tio̍h Brian ê siau-sit kiaⁿ chi̍t-tiô. 聽到秉義的消息，驚一跳。It was a surprise to receive the news of Brian.
July 1, 2018, 17:39 LINE So hiseng 蘇希生
請為Brian禱告。他昨天入急診。診斷是急性胰臟炎。 現在在icu.非常嚴重。心跳停一次。好不容易救回來。但。血壓不穩定。醫生還在想辦法。
July 2, 2018, 11:21 So hiseng 蘇希生
9:07分七月二號。 上帝帶他回家了。
Brian’s memorial service :
Sunday, Jul 15 at 2:30-4:00pm 10750 Lampson Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92840-5039
Āu-lâi tī thâu-chêng tiâⁿ kú-hêng ji̍p-bo̍k sek. Koan-bo̍k khǹg-tì chèng-lâng bīn-chêng. Lé-pài āu hong-bo̍k ê-sî khòaⁿ-kìⁿ khàm-kòa, khǹg chho͘-chóa tī si-thé seng-khu piⁿ, kā koan-bo̍k phah-khang, khàm-kòa, tèng tōa-ki teng. Tèng-teng ê siaⁿ-im chin te̍k-pia̍t, chin tín-tāng lâng ê sim, chhui lâng ê ba̍k-sái.
Ji̍p-bo̍k í-āu kiâⁿ-lō͘ khì bōng-hng bâi-chòng. Bōng-hn̂g tī Lâm-tôaⁿ, sī tùi Sin-káng khì Pak-káng ê lō͘-piⁿ, iā-sī goán beh tńg-khì Nâ-á-chhù chē kong-chhia lo̍h-chhia ê hū-kīn. Góa ē kì-chit ū khòaⁿ-tio̍h A-kong kap A-má bô kap ta̍k-lâng khì bōng-tē. In nn̄g-lâng lâu tī chhù-nih. He sī chhiau-kòe góa ê sióng-siōng ê tāi-chì. Góa sui-sî ū kàm-siū tio̍h hit-ê kan-khó͘-sim ê chêng-kéng. Chhin-chhiú bâi-chòng ka-kī ê kiáⁿ sī hui-siông tîm-tāng ê tāi-chì. Chím-má tī-chia teh hôe-sióng siá chhut-lâi ê sî góa mā tòng-bē-tiâu ba̍k-sái ti̍t-ti̍t lâu. Góa chhai-sióng sī ū-lâng kiò in mài khì bōng-tē. （Mā ū khó-lêng sī koàn-lē）.
想到的第一件事就是「他沒有機會讀到『阿公所講的故事』。我想要翻譯成英文，但是手腳太慢。
The first thing that came to my mind was that he, Brian, did not have the chance to read "the stories told by grandpa". I have been thinking about translating them into English but my actions were too slow.
There I saw my 6th uncle, Darron's grandpa, walking toward and entering the house in the trail behind the house, crying. The body of my A-peh was placed in a coffin without cover in the hall, the central room where tradition it was the place of worship and public sitting, next to a wall and everyone could see him immediately while entering the room. That was the first time I got to see a dead body. I did not have any bad feeling.
Later, there was a ceremony of coffin-sealing in the front yard. The coffin was placed in front of all participants. After the worship ceremony witnessed the covering, sealing of the coffin after it was filled with rough tissue paper and several holes were drilled on the wood coffin. The cover was fixed with big nails. The sound of the hammering was very special and moving the hearts of us, driving the tears among us.
After the coffin was sealed, we walked to the cemetery to bury. The cemetery was in Nantan, a place by the highway between the towns of Sin-káng and Pak-káng. It was also the place where we got off the bus from Sin-káng to Nâ-á-chhù. I remember seeing my grandparents staying at home without attending burial ceremony at the cemetery. That was beyond my imagination. I immediately felt the sad situation. It must be very heavy to bury a son by oneself. Now when I think about it, I can't help but tearing. I guess someone told them not to go to the cemetery. (It might also be the custom).
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Thâu chi̍t-hāng siūⁿ-tio̍h ê tāi-chì tō-sī I bô ki-hōe tha̍k-tio̍h "A-kong só͘ kóng ê kò͘-sū". Góa siūⁿ-beh hoan-e̍k chò Eng-gú, chóng-sī kha-chhiú siuⁿ-bān. 想到的第一件事就是「他沒有機會讀到『阿公所講的故事』。我想要翻譯成英文，但是手腳太慢。The first thing that came to my mind was that he, Brian, did not have the chance to read "the stories told by grandpa". I have been thinking about translating them into English but my actions were too slow.
Tē jī hāng siūⁿ-tio̍h ê sī chhin-cho̍k tiong-kan só͘ hoat-seng kòe iú-koan sí kò͘-sū. 第二件想到的是親族中間所發生過，有關死的故事。The second thing was the stories related to death and dying in the kins.
Góa só͘ keng-le̍k tio̍h ê thâu-chi̍t-pái sī A-peh kòe-sin. Hit-sî góa tha̍k ko-tiong. Choân-ke （iáu-kó tòa tī chhù-nì ê lâng, pau hâm jī-ko kap Hi-seng) lóng tńg-khì Nâ-á-chhù chham-ka song-sū ê oa̍h-tāng. 我所經歷到的第一件是阿伯的過身。那時我念高中。全家（還住在家裡的人，包括二哥和希生）都回去藍仔厝參加喪事活動。 The first incident I went through was the death of my A-peh, the elder brother of my father. (Actually, he was the eldest of the siblings and is supposed to be referred to as the biggest-peh. But since my father was the second in the row even though he was the fifth born to my grandparents we always called this peh simply "A-peh". I was in senior high school at that time. Those still staying at home at that time, simply my 2nd brother, Hi-chong (June's father), and younger brother Hi-seng (Brian's father) all went back to the village of Nâ (Nâ-á-chhù) to participate in the funeral-related activities.
Tī-hia, góa khòaⁿ-tio̍h la̍k-chek tī lâu-ba̍k-sái ê chêng-hêng-tiong tùi āu-piah sió-lō͘ kiâⁿ ji̍p-mn̂g. Khòaⁿ-tio̍h A-peh tó-tī koan-bo̍k lāi khǹg-tī thiaⁿ ê piah-piⁿ, bô khàm-kòa, ta̍k-lâng lóng sûi-sî khòaⁿ chin chheng-chhó. He sī góa thâu chi̍t-pái khòaⁿ-tio̍h sin-si, tān-sī bô kám-kak ū sím-mi̍h m̄-hó. 在那裡我看到六叔在淚水中從屋後的小徑走過來進入他的老家房子中。我看到阿伯躺在棺材裡，擺在大廳的牆壁邊，沒蓋蓋。每個人都可能立即看得很清楚。那是我第一次看到屍體，但是沒有什麼不舒服的感覺 There I saw my 6th uncle, Darron's grandpa, walking toward and entering the house in the trail behind the house, crying. The body of my A-peh was placed in a coffin without cover in the hall, the central room where tradition it was the place of worship and public sitting, next to a wall and everyone could see him immediately while entering the room. That was the first time I got to see a dead body. I did not have any bad feeling.
Sió-ha̍k pi̍t-gia̍p liáu hit-ê joa̍h-thiⁿ, A-peh bat chhōa góa khì Tâi-lâm Tióng-êng tiong-hak káⁿ-sī chham-ka kháu-chhì ê-khoán. He sī ji̍p-ha̍k khó-chhì pit-chhì thong-kòe í-āu ê lēng-gōa chi̍t-chōa chi̍t-tiám-cheng ê hóe-chhia lú-tô͘. Goán chò-hóe chē hóe-chhia, tùi hóe-chhia-thâu kiâⁿ kàu ha̍k-hāu. Góa ū kám-kap kap I put-chí chhin-kīn. Goán chi̍t-lō͘ hap-sian hap-kah chin sim-sek. 帶我去 台南參加長榮中學入學考試的口試部分。那是參加筆試合格之後的另一趟一小時的火車行程。我們一路聊得很愉快。The summer after I graduated from elementary school, A-peh once took me to Chang-jung Middle School in Tainan, for what I remember as the oral examination of the admission process. That was another hour-long railroad ride after the acceptance of a written examination. We took the train together and walked toward the school from the train station. I felt that he was very friendly and easy to approach and be together. We enjoyed chatting all the way.
Āu-lâi tī thâu-chêng tiâⁿ kú-hêng ji̍p-bo̍k sek. Koan-bo̍k khǹg-tì chèng-lâng bīn-chêng. Lé-pài āu hong-bo̍k ê-sî khòaⁿ-kìⁿ khàm-kòa, khǹg chho͘-chóa tī si-thé seng-khu piⁿ, kā koan-bo̍k phah-khang, khàm-kòa, tèng tōa-ki teng. Tèng-teng ê siaⁿ-im chin te̍k-pia̍t, chin tín-tāng lâng ê sim, chhui lâng ê ba̍k-sái. 然後在前庭舉行蓋棺禮拜。（台語說入木式。其實身體早已進入棺木。這個儀式是把棺木封起來。）棺木擺在眾人面前。禮拜後看到先塞入許多「粗紙」在身體旁邊，把棺木鑽些洞，把蓋子蓋上去，定上一些粗大的釘子。定釘子的聲音很特別，震撼人心、催人流淚。Later, there was a ceremony of coffin-sealing in the front yard. The coffin was placed in front of all participants. After the worship ceremony witnessed the covering, sealing of the coffin after it was filled with rough tissue paper and several holes were drilled on the wood coffin. The cover was fixed with big nails. The sound of the hammering was very special and moving the hearts of us, driving the tears among us.
Ji̍p-bo̍k í-āu kiâⁿ-lō͘ khì bōng-hng bâi-chòng. Bōng-hn̂g tī Lâm-tôaⁿ, sī tùi Sin-káng khì Pak-káng ê lō͘-piⁿ, iā-sī goán beh tńg-khì Nâ-á-chhù chē kong-chhia lo̍h-chhia ê hū-kīn. Góa kì-chit ū khòaⁿ-tio̍h A-kong kap A-má bô kap ta̍k-lâng khì bōng-tē. In nn̄g-lâng lâu tī chhù-nih. He sī chhiau-kòe góa ê sióng-siōng ê tāi-chì. Góa sui-sî ū kàm-siū tio̍h hit-ê kan-khó͘-sim ê chêng-kéng. Chhin-chhiú bâi-chòng ka-kī ê kiáⁿ sī hui-siông tîm-tāng ê tāi-chì. Chím-má tī-chia teh hôe-sióng siá chhut-lâi ê sî góa mā tòng-bē-tiâu ba̍k-sái ti̍t-ti̍t lâu. Góa chhai-sióng sī ū-lâng kiò in mài khì bōng-tē. （Mā ū khó-lêng sī koàn-lē). 封棺之後，走路去墓園埋葬。墓園在南壇，是從新港鎮往北港走的路邊。也是我們要去藍仔厝搭公車的下車之處。我記得看到祖父母沒跟大家去墓園。他們留在家裡。那是超過我想像的事情。我立刻感受到那種傷心的情境。親手埋葬自己的兒子是很沈重的事情。現在在這裡回想寫出來時候我也禁不住眼淚直流。我猜是有人叫他們別去墓園。（也有可能是慣例）After the coffin was sealed, we walked to the cemetery to bury. The cemetery was in Nantan, a place by the highway between the towns of Sin-káng and Pak-káng. It was also the place where we got off the bus from Sin-káng to Nâ-á-chhù. I remember seeing my grandparents staying at home without attending burial ceremony at the cemetery. That was beyond my imagination. I immediately felt the sad situation. It must be very heavy to bury a son by oneself. Now when I think about it, I can't help but tearing. I guess someone told them not to go to the cemetery. (It might also be the custom).
July 1, 2018, 17:39 LINE So hiseng 蘇希生
請為Brian禱告。他昨天入急診。診斷是急性胰臟炎。 現在在icu.非常嚴重。心跳停一次。好不容易救回來。但。血壓不穩定。醫生還在想辦法。
July 2, 2018, 11:21 So hiseng 蘇希生
9:07分七月二號。 上帝帶他回家了。
Brian’s memorial service :
Sunday, Jul 15 at 2:30-4:00pm 10750 Lampson Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92840-5039
Thâu chi̍t-hāng siūⁿ-tio̍h ê tāi-chì tō-sī I, Brian, bô ki-hōe tha̍k-tio̍h
"A-kong só͘ kóng ê kò͘-sū". Góa siūⁿ-beh hoan-e̍k chò Eng-gú,
chóng-sī kha-chhiú siuⁿ-bān.
Tē jī hāng siūⁿ-tio̍h ê sī chhin-cho̍k tiong-kan só͘
hoat-seng kòe iú-koan sí ê kò͘-sū.
Góa só͘ keng-le̍k tio̍h ê thâu-chi̍t-pái sī A-peh kòe-sin. Hit-sî
góa tha̍k ko-tiong. Choân-ke （iáu-kó
tòa tī chhù-nì ê lâng, pau hâm jī-ko kap Hi-seng) lóng tńg-khì Nâ-á-chhù
chham-ka song-sū ê oa̍h-tāng.
Tī-hia, góa khòaⁿ-tio̍h
la̍k-chek tī lâu-ba̍k-sái ê chêng-hêng-tiong tùi āu-piah sió-lō͘ kiâⁿ ji̍p-mn̂g. Khòaⁿ-tio̍h A-peh tó-tī koan-bo̍k lāi khǹg-tī thiaⁿ ê piah-piⁿ, bô khàm-kòa,
ta̍k-lâng lóng sûi-sî khòaⁿ chin
chheng-chhó. He sī góa thâu chi̍t-pái khòaⁿ-tio̍h
sin-si, tān-sī bô kám-kak ū sím-mi̍h m̄-hó.
Āu-lâi tī thâu-chêng tiâⁿ kú-hêng ji̍p-bo̍k sek. Koan-bo̍k khǹg-tì chèng-lâng bīn-chêng. Lé-pài āu hong-bo̍k ê-sî khòaⁿ-kìⁿ khàm-kòa, khǹg chho͘-chóa tī si-thé seng-khu piⁿ, kā koan-bo̍k phah-khang, khàm-kòa, tèng tōa-ki teng. Tèng-teng ê siaⁿ-im chin te̍k-pia̍t, chin tín-tāng lâng ê sim, chhui lâng ê ba̍k-sái.
Ji̍p-bo̍k í-āu kiâⁿ-lō͘ khì bōng-hng bâi-chòng. Bōng-hn̂g tī Lâm-tôaⁿ, sī tùi Sin-káng khì Pak-káng ê lō͘-piⁿ, iā-sī goán beh tńg-khì Nâ-á-chhù chē kong-chhia lo̍h-chhia ê hū-kīn. Góa ē kì-chit ū khòaⁿ-tio̍h A-kong kap A-má bô kap ta̍k-lâng khì bōng-tē. In nn̄g-lâng lâu tī chhù-nih. He sī chhiau-kòe góa ê sióng-siōng ê tāi-chì. Góa sui-sî ū kàm-siū tio̍h hit-ê kan-khó͘-sim ê chêng-kéng. Chhin-chhiú bâi-chòng ka-kī ê kiáⁿ sī hui-siông tîm-tāng ê tāi-chì. Chím-má tī-chia teh hôe-sióng siá chhut-lâi ê sî góa mā tòng-bē-tiâu ba̍k-sái ti̍t-ti̍t lâu. Góa chhai-sióng sī ū-lâng kiò in mài khì bōng-tē. （Mā ū khó-lêng sī koàn-lē）.
想到的第一件事就是「他沒有機會讀到『阿公所講的故事』。我想要翻譯成英文，但是手腳太慢。
第二件想到的是親族中間所發生過，有關死的故事
我所經歷到的第一件是阿伯的過身。那時我念高中。全家（還住在家裡的人，包括二哥和希生）都回去藍仔厝參加喪事活動。
在那裡我看到六叔在淚水中從屋後的小徑走過來進入他的老家房子中。我看到阿伯躺在棺材裡，擺在大廳的牆壁邊，沒蓋蓋。每個人都可能立即看得很清楚。那是我第一次看到屍體，但是沒有什麼不舒服的感覺
阿伯曾經帶我去台南參加長榮中學入學考試的口試部分。那是參加筆試合格之後的另一趟一小時的火車行程。我們一路聊得很愉快。
然後在前庭舉行蓋棺禮拜。（台語說入木式。其實身體早已進入棺木。這個儀式是把棺木封起來。）棺木擺在眾人面前。禮拜後看到先塞入許多「粗紙」在身體旁邊，把棺木鑽些洞，把蓋子蓋上去，定上一些粗大的釘子。定釘子的聲音很特別，震撼人心、催人流淚。
封棺之後，走路去墓園埋葬。墓園在南壇，是從新港鎮往北港走的路邊。也是我們要去藍仔厝搭公車的下車之處。我記得看到祖父母沒跟大家去墓園。他們留在家裡。那是超過我想像的事情。我立刻感受到那種傷心的情境。親手埋葬自己的兒子是很沈重的事情。現在在這裡回想寫出來時候我也禁不住眼淚直流。我猜是有人叫他們別去墓園。（也有可能是慣例）
The first thing that came to my mind was that he, Brian, did not have the chance to read "the stories told by grandpa". I have been thinking about translating them into English but my actions were too slow.
The second thing was the stories related to death and dying in the
kins.
The first incident I went through was the death of my A-peh, the
elder brother of my father. (Actually, he was the eldest of the siblings and is
supposed to be referred to as the biggest-peh. But since my father was the
second in the row even though he was the fifth born to my grandparents we
always called this peh simply "A-peh". I was in senior high school at
that time. Those still staying at home at that time, simply my 2nd brother,
Hi-chong (June's father), and younger brother Hi-seng (Brian's
father) all went back to the village of Nâ (Nâ-á-chhù) to participate in the
funeral-related activities.
There I saw my 6th uncle, Darron's grandpa, walking toward and entering the house in the trail behind the house, crying. The body of my A-peh was placed in a coffin without cover in the hall, the central room where tradition it was the place of worship and public sitting, next to a wall and everyone could see him immediately while entering the room. That was the first time I got to see a dead body. I did not have any bad feeling.
The summer after I graduated from elementary school, A-peh once
took me to Chang-jung Middle School in Tainan, for what I remember as the oral
examination of the admission process. That was another hour-long railroad ride
after the acceptance of a written examination. We took the train together and
walked toward the school from the train station. I felt that he was very
friendly and easy to approach and be together. We enjoyed chatting all the way.
Later, there was a ceremony of coffin-sealing in the front yard. The coffin was placed in front of all participants. After the worship ceremony witnessed the covering, sealing of the coffin after it was filled with rough tissue paper and several holes were drilled on the wood coffin. The cover was fixed with big nails. The sound of the hammering was very special and moving the hearts of us, driving the tears among us.
After the coffin was sealed, we walked to the cemetery to bury. The cemetery was in Nantan, a place by the highway between the towns of Sin-káng and Pak-káng. It was also the place where we got off the bus from Sin-káng to Nâ-á-chhù. I remember seeing my grandparents staying at home without attending burial ceremony at the cemetery. That was beyond my imagination. I immediately felt the sad situation. It must be very heavy to bury a son by oneself. Now when I think about it, I can't help but tearing. I guess someone told them not to go to the cemetery. (It might also be the custom).
-----
Thâu chi̍t-hāng siūⁿ-tio̍h ê tāi-chì tō-sī I bô ki-hōe tha̍k-tio̍h "A-kong só͘ kóng ê kò͘-sū". Góa siūⁿ-beh hoan-e̍k chò Eng-gú, chóng-sī kha-chhiú siuⁿ-bān. 想到的第一件事就是「他沒有機會讀到『阿公所講的故事』。我想要翻譯成英文，但是手腳太慢。The first thing that came to my mind was that he, Brian, did not have the chance to read "the stories told by grandpa". I have been thinking about translating them into English but my actions were too slow.
Tē jī hāng siūⁿ-tio̍h ê sī chhin-cho̍k tiong-kan só͘ hoat-seng kòe iú-koan sí kò͘-sū. 第二件想到的是親族中間所發生過，有關死的故事。The second thing was the stories related to death and dying in the kins.
Góa só͘ keng-le̍k tio̍h ê thâu-chi̍t-pái sī A-peh kòe-sin. Hit-sî góa tha̍k ko-tiong. Choân-ke （iáu-kó tòa tī chhù-nì ê lâng, pau hâm jī-ko kap Hi-seng) lóng tńg-khì Nâ-á-chhù chham-ka song-sū ê oa̍h-tāng. 我所經歷到的第一件是阿伯的過身。那時我念高中。全家（還住在家裡的人，包括二哥和希生）都回去藍仔厝參加喪事活動。 The first incident I went through was the death of my A-peh, the elder brother of my father. (Actually, he was the eldest of the siblings and is supposed to be referred to as the biggest-peh. But since my father was the second in the row even though he was the fifth born to my grandparents we always called this peh simply "A-peh". I was in senior high school at that time. Those still staying at home at that time, simply my 2nd brother, Hi-chong (June's father), and younger brother Hi-seng (Brian's father) all went back to the village of Nâ (Nâ-á-chhù) to participate in the funeral-related activities.
Tī-hia, góa khòaⁿ-tio̍h la̍k-chek tī lâu-ba̍k-sái ê chêng-hêng-tiong tùi āu-piah sió-lō͘ kiâⁿ ji̍p-mn̂g. Khòaⁿ-tio̍h A-peh tó-tī koan-bo̍k lāi khǹg-tī thiaⁿ ê piah-piⁿ, bô khàm-kòa, ta̍k-lâng lóng sûi-sî khòaⁿ chin chheng-chhó. He sī góa thâu chi̍t-pái khòaⁿ-tio̍h sin-si, tān-sī bô kám-kak ū sím-mi̍h m̄-hó. 在那裡我看到六叔在淚水中從屋後的小徑走過來進入他的老家房子中。我看到阿伯躺在棺材裡，擺在大廳的牆壁邊，沒蓋蓋。每個人都可能立即看得很清楚。那是我第一次看到屍體，但是沒有什麼不舒服的感覺 There I saw my 6th uncle, Darron's grandpa, walking toward and entering the house in the trail behind the house, crying. The body of my A-peh was placed in a coffin without cover in the hall, the central room where tradition it was the place of worship and public sitting, next to a wall and everyone could see him immediately while entering the room. That was the first time I got to see a dead body. I did not have any bad feeling.
Sió-ha̍k pi̍t-gia̍p liáu hit-ê joa̍h-thiⁿ, A-peh bat chhōa góa khì Tâi-lâm Tióng-êng tiong-hak káⁿ-sī chham-ka kháu-chhì ê-khoán. He sī ji̍p-ha̍k khó-chhì pit-chhì thong-kòe í-āu ê lēng-gōa chi̍t-chōa chi̍t-tiám-cheng ê hóe-chhia lú-tô͘. Goán chò-hóe chē hóe-chhia, tùi hóe-chhia-thâu kiâⁿ kàu ha̍k-hāu. Góa ū kám-kap kap I put-chí chhin-kīn. Goán chi̍t-lō͘ hap-sian hap-kah chin sim-sek. 帶我去 台南參加長榮中學入學考試的口試部分。那是參加筆試合格之後的另一趟一小時的火車行程。我們一路聊得很愉快。The summer after I graduated from elementary school, A-peh once took me to Chang-jung Middle School in Tainan, for what I remember as the oral examination of the admission process. That was another hour-long railroad ride after the acceptance of a written examination. We took the train together and walked toward the school from the train station. I felt that he was very friendly and easy to approach and be together. We enjoyed chatting all the way.
Āu-lâi tī thâu-chêng tiâⁿ kú-hêng ji̍p-bo̍k sek. Koan-bo̍k khǹg-tì chèng-lâng bīn-chêng. Lé-pài āu hong-bo̍k ê-sî khòaⁿ-kìⁿ khàm-kòa, khǹg chho͘-chóa tī si-thé seng-khu piⁿ, kā koan-bo̍k phah-khang, khàm-kòa, tèng tōa-ki teng. Tèng-teng ê siaⁿ-im chin te̍k-pia̍t, chin tín-tāng lâng ê sim, chhui lâng ê ba̍k-sái. 然後在前庭舉行蓋棺禮拜。（台語說入木式。其實身體早已進入棺木。這個儀式是把棺木封起來。）棺木擺在眾人面前。禮拜後看到先塞入許多「粗紙」在身體旁邊，把棺木鑽些洞，把蓋子蓋上去，定上一些粗大的釘子。定釘子的聲音很特別，震撼人心、催人流淚。Later, there was a ceremony of coffin-sealing in the front yard. The coffin was placed in front of all participants. After the worship ceremony witnessed the covering, sealing of the coffin after it was filled with rough tissue paper and several holes were drilled on the wood coffin. The cover was fixed with big nails. The sound of the hammering was very special and moving the hearts of us, driving the tears among us.
Ji̍p-bo̍k í-āu kiâⁿ-lō͘ khì bōng-hng bâi-chòng. Bōng-hn̂g tī Lâm-tôaⁿ, sī tùi Sin-káng khì Pak-káng ê lō͘-piⁿ, iā-sī goán beh tńg-khì Nâ-á-chhù chē kong-chhia lo̍h-chhia ê hū-kīn. Góa kì-chit ū khòaⁿ-tio̍h A-kong kap A-má bô kap ta̍k-lâng khì bōng-tē. In nn̄g-lâng lâu tī chhù-nih. He sī chhiau-kòe góa ê sióng-siōng ê tāi-chì. Góa sui-sî ū kàm-siū tio̍h hit-ê kan-khó͘-sim ê chêng-kéng. Chhin-chhiú bâi-chòng ka-kī ê kiáⁿ sī hui-siông tîm-tāng ê tāi-chì. Chím-má tī-chia teh hôe-sióng siá chhut-lâi ê sî góa mā tòng-bē-tiâu ba̍k-sái ti̍t-ti̍t lâu. Góa chhai-sióng sī ū-lâng kiò in mài khì bōng-tē. （Mā ū khó-lêng sī koàn-lē). 封棺之後，走路去墓園埋葬。墓園在南壇，是從新港鎮往北港走的路邊。也是我們要去藍仔厝搭公車的下車之處。我記得看到祖父母沒跟大家去墓園。他們留在家裡。那是超過我想像的事情。我立刻感受到那種傷心的情境。親手埋葬自己的兒子是很沈重的事情。現在在這裡回想寫出來時候我也禁不住眼淚直流。我猜是有人叫他們別去墓園。（也有可能是慣例）After the coffin was sealed, we walked to the cemetery to bury. The cemetery was in Nantan, a place by the highway between the towns of Sin-káng and Pak-káng. It was also the place where we got off the bus from Sin-káng to Nâ-á-chhù. I remember seeing my grandparents staying at home without attending burial ceremony at the cemetery. That was beyond my imagination. I immediately felt the sad situation. It must be very heavy to bury a son by oneself. Now when I think about it, I can't help but tearing. I guess someone told them not to go to the cemetery. (It might also be the custom).
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