Sandra Wong Geroux with Samuel Geroux, JT Nails, San Francisco, CA Photo Credit Laura Folger

Version 1:

A mother's devotion is expansive like the overflowing Pacific Ocean
A mother's affection is concerned like the current of a sweet, gentle stream
A mother's words are like the rustling of rice in the afternoon fields
The sounds of a lullabye on the porch as the moon illuminates the shadow of mother, beloved.

A mother's devotion loving her children like the full moon of autumn
A mother's affection dear and loving like the wind rippling across the lake
The words of a lullabye are expansive like the sound of the kite's flute
floating above
Rain or shine, morning and night, happy with the song of her young one

Loving her children so much she's unable to sleep so many long nights
If the child is resting peacefully, kind mother is so, so happy
Loving her children midnight to early morning these many days and nights

Taking pains throughout all the difficulties of raising children until the day they're grown.

Though there's wind or rain, you don't care that you're becoming thinner, kind mother
Fog followed by harsh sunlight have whitened your head (hair) so sadly
Day or night, early or late, she shares her happiness with her children
Your peaceful lullabye, kind mother, is unceasing across the months and the years.

Version 2:

A mother's devotion is expansive like the overflowing Pacific Ocean
A mother's affection is concerned like the current of a sweet, gentle stream
A mother's words are like the rustling of rice in the afternoon fields
The sounds of a lullabye on the porch as the moon illuminates the shadow
of mother, beloved.

A mother's devotion loving me like the full moon of autumn
A mother's affection dear and loving like the wind rippling across the lake
The words of a lullabye are expansive like the sound of the kite's flute floating above
Rain or shine, morning and night, happy with the song of her young one

Loving me so much she's unable to sleep so many long nights
If I'm resting peacefully, kind mother is so, so happy
Loving me from midnight to early morning these many days and nights
Taking pains throughout all the difficulties of raising me until the day I'm grown.

Though there's wind or rain, you don't care that you're becoming thinner, kind mother
Fog followed by harsh sunlight have whitened your head (hair) so sadly
Day or night, early or late, you share your happiness with me
Your peaceful lullabye, kind mother, is unceasing across the months and the years.