作者：沈美花

        2026年7月12日下午，我来到美国加州圣莫尼卡海滩，参加刘晓波先生逝世九周年纪念活动。

        当天圣莫尼卡海滩没有阳光。天空低沉，云层笼罩着太平洋，海风带着凉意一阵阵吹来。远处的海浪不断涌向岸边，又缓缓退去。这样的天气，仿佛也在诉说着一种无法散去的哀伤。   

        这里原本是一个充满欢笑和游客的地方，而我们却怀着沉重而肃穆的心情聚集在海边，共同纪念一位为了中国的自由、民主与人权付出一生，并最终失去自由和生命的人——刘晓波先生。

        活动现场摆放着刘晓波先生的大幅照片，鲜花静静地放在他的遗像前。参加活动的人们身穿深色衣服，手持写有“从来不需要想起，永远也不会忘记”和“Always in Our Hearts, Never Forgotten”的纪念横幅。站在人群中，看着刘晓波先生的照片，我的心情久久不能平静。

       活动中，中国民主党创始人之一朱虞夫老先生发表讲话。他在追忆刘晓波先生的同时，也讲述了自己过去与刘晓波先生的妻子刘霞见面的一些往事。通过朱虞夫先生的亲身回忆，我们仿佛从另一个角度走近了刘晓波和刘霞，也更加真切地感受到他们在漫长岁月中所经历的苦难与坚持。接着，多位民主人士和活动参与者陆续发言，从不同角度追忆刘晓波先生，表达对他的怀念与敬意，也表达了对中国自由、民主和人权事业的关注。对我而言，这些来自亲历者的讲述，让刘晓波不再只是历史中的一个名字，而成为一个更加真实、有血有肉的人。

        随后，活动进入诗歌朗诵环节。由主持人张致君和郑伟领诵，现场参加者共同以诗歌寄托对刘晓波先生的哀思。海浪不断拍打着岸边，朗诵声伴随着太平洋的海风回荡在圣莫尼卡海滩。

       在当天的诗歌中，最令我印象深刻的是

诗人蔡楚先生的《七月诗——怀念》：

七月诗——怀念蔡楚

怀念一棵老树根

扎进大地叶

撑开乌云即使被雷霆劈断仍然挺立

怀念一个人用骨灰书写爱情在海上把忧伤化作阴间的地址

怀念一个灵魂没有远去海浪一样向你扑来礁石一样站成宪章

怀念，年年抽出新绿直到怀念长成树前我不会忘记把种子留给人间

当这首诗在海边响起时，我的内心深受触动。尤其是“礁石一样站成宪章”和“把种子留给人间”，让我想到刘晓波先生虽然已经离开，但他对自由、民主与人权的追求，并没有随着生命的结束而消失。他留下的思想和精神，就像一颗种子，被后来的人记住，也被一代又一代追求自由的人继续传递。

         诗歌朗诵结束后，现场响起了那首朴树的《送别》。大家怀着对刘晓波先生的深切怀念，一同唱起这首熟悉的歌曲。没有华丽的表达，也没有喧闹的声音，只有简单的旋律和真挚的情感，在太平洋的海风与海浪声中缓缓回荡。那一刻，《送别》的歌声仿佛不仅是在送别一位已经离开九年的故人，也是在表达我们对刘晓波先生无尽的思念与敬意。歌声中有不舍，有悲伤，也有一种跨越岁月的怀念。

        随后，大家怀着肃穆的心情依次向刘晓波先生的遗像献花。鲜花摆放在海滩上，身后是辽阔的太平洋。那一刻，我更加理解了这场纪念活动的意义：我们纪念刘晓波，不仅是为了怀念一个已经离去的人，更是为了记住他曾经坚持的理想，以及他为自由付出的代价。

        来到美国以后，我参加了越来越多与中国民主、人权有关的活动。也开始了解许多过去在中国无法公开了解的历史和人物。刘晓波先生就是其中一位。他因为坚持自己的政治理念、追求和平的政治改革而失去自由，甚至直到生命的最后阶段，也没有获得真正的自由。

        我认为，一个人不应该因为表达自己的政治观点而被关进监狱；一个国家也不应该依靠封锁、审查和镇压来维持统治。真正健康的社会，应当允许不同的声音存在，应当尊重每个人表达思想和追求自由的基本权利。

        刘晓波先生曾经离自由那么远，而今天，我们却可以站在自由的土地上公开纪念他。这更让我明白，自由从来不是理所当然的。正因为有人曾经为自由付出代价，后来的人才更应该珍惜自由、捍卫自由。

        九年过去了，刘晓波先生已经离开这个世界，但他的名字并没有被遗忘。

从来不需要想起，因为永远也不会忘记。

        太平洋的风依然吹着，海浪依然拍打着岸边。活动结束后，人们渐渐散去，但我相信，只要还有人愿意记住刘晓波，愿意讲述他的故事，愿意继续追求自由、民主与人权，他所坚持的精神就不会消失。

刘晓波先生，愿您安息。

我们不会忘记您。

                                                                                                                            编辑：钟然 校对：毛一炜 翻泽：沈美花

The Wind of the Pacific Cannot Disperse the Deep Miss for Liu Xiaobo

Author: Shen Meihua

Abstract: On July 12, 2026, an event commemorating the ninth anniversary of Mr. Liu Xiaobo’s passing was held at Santa Monica Beach in the United States. Participants recalled Liu Xiaobo through speeches, poetry recitations, and floral tributes, expressing their persistence and respect for the ideals of freedom, democracy, and human rights.

On the afternoon of July 12, 2026, I came to Santa Monica Beach in California, USA, to participate in the commemoration ceremony for the ninth anniversary of Mr. Liu Xiaobo’s passing.

There was no sunshine at Santa Monica Beach that day. The sky was low, clouds shrouded the Pacific Ocean, and the sea breeze blew in chilly gusts. In the distance, waves kept surging toward the shore and then slowly receding. Such weather seemed to be expressing a lingering sorrow that could not be dispersed.

                                                                                                                             This was originally a place filled with laughter and tourists, yet we gathered by the seaside with heavy and solemn hearts, to jointly commemorate a man who dedicated his entire life—and ultimately lost his freedom and his life—for the freedom, democracy, and human rights of China: Mr. Liu Xiaobo.

At the event site, a large photograph of Mr. Liu Xiaobo was displayed, with fresh flowers resting quietly before his portrait. People attending the event dressed in dark-colored clothing, holding commemorative banners that read: “从来不需要想起，永远也不会忘记” (Never needing to be reminded, forever impossible to forget) and “Always in Our Hearts, Never Forgotten.” Standing in the crowd and looking at Mr. Liu Xiaobo’s photograph, my emotions could not settle for a long time.

During the event, Mr. Zhu Yufu, one of the founders of the China Democracy Party, delivered a speech. While reminiscing about Mr. Liu Xiaobo, he also shared some past stories of his meetings with Mr. Liu Xiaobo’s wife, Liu Xia. Through Mr. Zhu Yufu’s personal recollections, it felt as if we approached Liu Xiaobo and Liu Xia from another perspective, and more genuinely felt the suffering and persistence they experienced over those long years. Subsequently, several pro-democracy figures and event participants spoke one after another, recalling Mr. Liu Xiaobo from different angles, expressing their remembrance of and respect for him, as well as their concern for the cause of freedom, democracy, and human rights in China. For me, these accounts from those who personally lived through it made Liu Xiaobo no longer just a name in history, but a more real, flesh-and-blood person.

Subsequently, the event entered the poetry recitation segment. Led by the hosts Zhang Zhijun and Zheng Wei, the participants on-site jointly expressed their grief for Mr. Liu Xiaobo through poetry. The waves kept crashing against the shore, and the sound of recitation, accompanied by the wind of the Pacific, echoed across Santa Monica Beach.

Among the poems read that day, the one that left the deepest impression on me was “July Poem — Remembrance” by the poet Mr. Cai Chu:

July Poem — Remembrance

Author: Cai Chu

Cherishing the memory of an old tree:

Its roots, dug deep into the earth;

Its leaves, pushing open the dark clouds.

Even if split by thunder,

It still stands upright.

Cherishing the memory of a person:

Who wrote of love with ashes,

Who, upon the sea, turned sorrow

Into an address in the underworld.

Cherishing the memory of a soul:

That has not departed far away,

Rushing toward you like ocean waves,

Standing firm like a reef, shaped into a charter.

Remembrance sprouts new green year after year;

Before remembrance grows into a tree,

I will not forget

To leave the seeds to the world of mortals.

When this poem resounded by the seaside, my heart was deeply touched. Especially the lines “Standing firm like a reef, shaped into a charter”and “To leave the seeds to the world of mortals” made me realize that although Mr. Liu Xiaobo has departed, his pursuit of freedom, democracy, and human rights did not vanish with the end of his life. The thoughts and spirit he left behind are like a seed, remembered by latecomers and continuously passed on by generation after generation of those who pursue freedom.

After the poetry recitation concluded, the song “Farewell” by Pu Shu played at the venue. Carrying our deep remembrance of Mr. Liu Xiaobo, everyone sang this familiar song together. There were no ornate expressions, nor clamorous voices, only the simple melody and sincere emotions slowly echoing amidst the Pacific sea breeze and the sound of waves. At that moment, the singing of “Farewell” seemed not only to be bidding farewell to an old friend who had departed nine years ago, but also to be expressing our endless longing and respect for Mr. Liu Xiaobo. In the singing, there was reluctance, there was sadness, and there was also a remembrance that transcends time.

Subsequently, everyone, with a solemn mood, took turns to lay flowers before the portrait of Mr. Liu Xiaobo. The fresh flowers were placed on the beach, with the vast Pacific Ocean behind them. At that moment, I understood the significance of this commemorative event even more: we commemorate Liu Xiaobo not only to yearn for a person who has passed away, but even more to remember the ideals he once persisted in, and the price he paid for freedom.

Since coming to the United States, I have participated in more and more activities related to Chinese democracy and human rights. I have also begun to learn about many historical events and figures that could not be openly understood in China in the past. Mr. Liu Xiaobo is one of them. Because he persisted in his political beliefs and pursued peaceful political reform, he lost his freedom, and even in the final stage of his life, he never obtained true freedom.

I believe that a person should not be imprisoned for expressing their political views; nor should a country rely on blockades, censorship, and suppression to maintain its rule. A truly healthy society should allow different voices to exist, and should respect everyone’s fundamental right to express their thoughts and pursue freedom.

Mr. Liu Xiaobo was once so far away from freedom, yet today, we can stand on free soil to openly commemorate him. This makes me realize even more that freedom is never taken for granted. Precisely because someone once paid the price for freedom, those who follow should cherish and defend freedom all the more.

Nine years have passed, and Mr. Liu Xiaobo has left this world, but his name has not been forgotten.

Never needing to be reminded, because it will forever be impossible to forget.

The wind of the Pacific still blows, and the waves still crash against the shore. After the event ended, people gradually dispersed, but I believe that as long as there are still people willing to remember Liu Xiaobo, willing to tell his story, and willing to continue the pursuit of freedom, democracy, and human rights, the spirit he persisted in will never vanish.

Mr. Liu Xiaobo, may you rest in peace.

We will not forget you.

Editor: Zhong Ran

Proofreader: Mao Yiwei

Translator: Shen Meihua