"Song of Seven Sons," which was written at a time when Macao, Hong Kong and five other Chinese territories fell under foreign occupation, has been chanted again and again when the lost territories were recovered, and sung today in Macao and the rest of China.

The seven places were compared by late poet Wen Yiduo of the 1930s and 40s to sons compelled to leave their mother.

The melody out of the poem were heard at every corner across China, including Macao, when the Chinese resumed sovereignty over Macao on December 20 last year: "Mother, it has been too long since I left you ... call me by my infant name Aomen. Mother, I want to come back."

It has also inspired millions to fight against imperialist invasions and occupation of the seven "sons": Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Kowloon, Weihai Port of Shandong, Guangzhou Bay and Luda (Lushun and Dalian).

A youth by the name of Wu once wrote to the magazine which first published this poem 75 years ago that "when I read this poem, I was so overwhelmed that I didn't realize that my eyes were full of tears." In 1930, Weihai Port was taken back from the hands of the British; in 1945, the Chinese people defeated the Japanese aggressors and Taiwan returned to the motherland; Guangzhou Bay, Lushun and Dalian were also returned to the embrace of China at the same time.

The founding of New China in 1949, the legitimate seat resumed in the United Nations in 1971, the reform and opening up of China since 1978 and ensuing revolutionary changes in the country finally paved the way for the return of the remaining two "sons" --Hong Kong and Macao.

Colonists can no longer ignore the fact that China will not allow them to continue their occupation of Chinese land to the 21st century.

On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong was taken back; and a year ago, Macao bid farewell to Portuguese rule.

Wen Lidiao, son of late writer Wen Yiduo, said on the night of December 20 last year, "The return of Macao to the motherland is a joyous occasion for both the country and our family. I'm very happy that my father's long-cherished wish has come true. I hope my father will realize this and share our happiness in Heaven."

To the dismay of more than one billion Chinese, there is still the last son failing to be united with its mother -- Taiwan.

The total reunification of the motherland has been an unyielding will of the Chinese people and the only way toward national rejuvenation, said Li Mo'an, president of the Huangpu (Whampoa) Military Academy Alumni Association in China, which is in close association with the Taiwan side.

"We are the pearls of the East Sea ... We want to come back, mother!" read the "Song of Seven Songs."

"Song of Seven Sons" should be deemed as the centennial song for the Chinese people, which witnessed how the dreams of millions of Chinese came true in this century.

(Xinhua 12/18/2000)