感谢朋友的英语作文以信的方式（优秀20篇）

贫困山区的小朋友们:

你们好!

我是__学校7年级S班的一名学生。

今天,我在电视上看到了你们的情况,你们这么千辛万苦努力渴望着去上学。衣服都是破破烂烂的,教室都是用草席编成的,桌子脚都是用一块块石头堆成的,桌子板都是随随便便用一块木板做成的,平时连一顿饭都吃不饱,想上学的都交不起学费,只能坐在教室门外偷偷的听课,老师给你们上课还要带着孩子。教师没了,你们只能一个个都坐在石头上听课,老师只能靠着“墙”给你们上课,老师的一只胳膊没了,还要坚持给你们上课,老师还要在教室里给你们生火做饭,你们有时候还要几个人挤一张桌子听课,你们的“书包”都是用破破的塑料袋子,你们有些人还没有鞋子可以穿,还没有凳子坐,只能跪在地上听课,有些还要站着,因为桌子不够。墙没了,下雨的时候,教室都变成“一条河”了。家里的外墙都是用土筑成的,一个个的手没有一个是没有冻疮的,你们那一支支铅笔,都是那么短,你们的操场......

再看看我们吧,要什么有什么,上的都是名牌学校、国际学校、贵族学校。各种各样的笔、书包,穿的都是世界顶级、名牌的,而且样式都不一样,五彩缤纷的,就连鞋子,身体上戴的,穿的,都是名牌。

我们拥有的却比你们拥有的更多,但是我们却没你们那么用功、刻苦、认真,我们整天想着玩,从来就没想过要学习的像你们一样。所以,说到底还是一句话,生在福中不知福啊!

最后,祝你们:身体健康、天天开心快乐、学习每天更上一层楼、早日摆脱贫困!

____

年月日

北京的小朋友：

你好!我参加了一个“手拉手”的活动，所以我想给你——远方的小朋友写一封信。

虽然我们未曾见过面，但我非常想把我那颗真诚的、渴望友谊的心献给你——远方的小朋友。哦!对了!我叫张朱喆，今年十一岁半，有一头超炫的小黄毛，有一双魅力的小眼睛。最令我自豪的是，我有高大挺秀的身材，全身布满着运动细胞，我喜欢参加有关运动类的活动。

我非常羡慕你们北京的小朋友。因为北京有雄伟壮观、蜿蜒盘旋的万里长城，历史悠久的故宫，还有美丽壮观的立交桥。写到这里，我就想迫不及待的想和你见面，听你们说说还有什么美不胜收的景点和让人垂涎三尺的美食。让我们拉上友谊的小手，一起等待我们见面的那一天吧!

经过我们热烈的讨论，这次的“手拉手“活动有以下几点内容：

第一，互访活动，你们可以来我的家乡，在湖北荆州，那里的风景美不胜收，空气是那么清新，天空是那么明朗。鱼糕、辣肠，都是我们家乡的特产。我们那里是一座古城，所以有很多旅游景点，比如说有历史悠久的关公庙，高大雄伟的大关公雕像，还有游乐胜地——万达广场。如果有机会，我可以当你的小导游带你游玩我的家乡。

第二，带你们去我的学校，我在广东顺德的__小学读书，学校里书声琅琅、鸟语花香、空气新鲜。有宽阔的操场，有种满奇花异草的植物园，如果你来的话，我会带你来参观我的学校，一起学习，并且互相交流把!

我的计划怎么样?假如你愿意，请尽快回信，让我们再次拉上友谊的小手，一起去等待见面的那一天吧!

祝你：

学习进步!

你的朋友：

Today, I learned piano back, mother gave me to eat melons. I said: "I can

only eat half." Mother said: "that was cut in half!" I say: "good." Mother will

give me cut half a melon, later, I ate ate, found some of which are yellow

melon, I asked my mom is going on? Mother said: "thats because the ripe, it

doesnt matter." I understand the meaning of the mother, the melon all finished,

today, Ive really had a good time!

I am seven years old now, though I am very small, I am on the way to grow

up. Two years ago, I couldn’t go out by myself, I dependent on my parents so

much, but now I am different now, I can talk to strangers and make friends with

them, I am not afraid of the strangers. In the future, I will become better and

better.

16 April 2006

Dear Sir,

I am working on a new project which is called A Survey of New Industry in the Maywood District. According to the design of our district, we need information about firms that have recently moved into this area. Your firm is one of the largest of these, so I shall be very grateful if you can spare the time to help me.

Three points are specially important to the project. The first one is the training schemes for school leavers. The second one is about the transport arrangements to overcome poor road and rail links in this district. The third is the plans for expansion.

Any other information will be useful, but those points are the ones with which I most need your help.

I am enclosing an information form for you to fill in. I hope you can post it to us as soon as possible. I apologize for adding to your work with this request, but I do hope that you will feel able to assist me.

I would be most grateful for your favorable consideration of this request.

Yours faithfully,

Mary Spencer

Of course in the whole wild world, there is only one place with which is

the coldest; and that is in Antarctica.

It was a beautiful fact that once or twice a year, there was going to be a

big parade; now nobody ever heard of that story; but let me tell you all about

it, one the North pole until all the way to its opposite.

After a day or two, the magnificent magician of the great London, is ready

to travel for its reward, of saving he town from a dangerous earthquake. After

that, he helped the poor people recover and saved a lot of townspeople that were

suffering for life.

When he was fully packed to go and travel, he double checked everything had

he was going to use or should I say need. Then he went to the airport ready to

take off they always made sure safety first. When it was ready, the manager

counted, “One, two three, get set; go!” and then the plane took off. It flew a

good distance, until it reached the beach. There the man enjoyed his life, but

was not quite astonished a bit.

When he was sick of that place, he decided to change another place to enjoy

his life. And so on he hopped onto the plan. When it took off, the man was

wondering what place are they arriving now? When he opened his eyes, he found

himself in the North Pole. There he rested and enjoyed his life. When it was

time to go and find another place, he decided to go to its opposite; Antarctica.

He was so very, very, very excited.

The plane took off again, and it flew a while until they reached

Antarctica; it was quite a long trip, but when they finally landed on land, the

man as so excited that he switched on his clothes immediately and went to

play.

He was having a very good time; at last he chose his place.

He went to the manager of the airport, and said that he could now rest;

because he had finished his work in finding his place of life.

He was very glad, and when he was ready to build his home, he thought about

the penguins. He had played with them a good time; at last he finished building

his house. He had made friends with the penguins too.

Happy day!

Dear Mr. Williams,

Thank you for your letter of congratulation on my exam results. I was very pleased to hear from you. The results were a great relief. I did much better than I thought I would.

We are having a celebration party on Saturday 22 May and we shall be pleased if you can come. It is a party for me, but my parents and some of their old friends are joining in, so you will find "real people" as well as teenagers to talk to.

The party starts at half past six- drinks, and a buffet supper later. You said in your letter that youve given up driving, so my father will meet you with the car at San Mateo station. Please let me know what time your train arrives.

There is a good train back to San Palo at 10:30 and well arrange transport for you to catch that. I hope that wont be too late for you. It would be a pity if you had to leave while the party was still in full swing.

I do hope that you will be able to come.

Yours sincerely,

Lily Chen

Dear Sir or Madam,

Im Li Hua, a middle school student from China. I read the announcement of

the summer camp that you have posted on the Internet and I am interested in

it.

I know that you welcome students from different countries and Id like to

take part in it. Ive been learning English for 10 years, and I speak fluent

English. What is more, Ill be able to tell students from other countries about

China and learn about their countries as well. I hope I will be accepted as a

member of your summer camp.

Looking forward to your reply!

Yours，

Li Hua

Dear English teacher：

Hello，thank you for the last few more and for our education，when you first came here，I thought you very fierce. The results you are very kind，I like your clas very much，although you are very strict，take care to do for customs clearance. But the love make fun of. I began to think that I would learn English is very poor，the results from the period of senior high school entrance examination and the monthly exam，I did not read at first I was so bad，but also got eighty-six and ninety point five. In this you I want to say thanks to you，thank you for this a few months of teaching

Your students：

Shi Senmiao

In January

尊敬的某x人民医院领导：

您们好!我首先在这里对您们表示衷心的感谢，感谢您们一个礼拜以来对家母病情的关注。祝贵院事业蒸蒸日上，在医学科学领域里取得更大的成绩。

当得到母亲得病的那一刻，我第一个打算是把母亲接到北京来治疗，可家人和朋友都极力劝说我，说咱们某x人民医院的杨春杰主任对我母亲的这种血栓导致半身不遂的病具有非常精湛的医术，作为一个公职人员我身在北京回去也要几个小时，所以就暂时同意了去某某医院的意见，打算先治疗一下看看，我也马上回家，不行的话再接母亲转院来北京。可当我见到某x他用无私的爱心和高尚的医德，用一言一行、一举一动诠释着当代医生的职责操守和医道本色时我感动了，我决定就在咱们宁津县人民医院治疗，我认为有这么负责的医生肯定能治好我母亲的病。

在家母住院期间，由于我们对医学知识的一知半解，没少给医护人员出难题、添麻烦，但听了某某的精辟讲解，看着他细致耐心、认真负责的工作态度，我们悬着的心落下了一大半。对患者家属来讲，医生就是最后的心理支柱，他的言行举止影响着患者全家，每当患者的病情有什么变化时，杨春杰主任及内四科全体医护人员们总是及时耐心地与我们家属沟通，详细讲解病情及治疗方案，并对我们这些六神无主的家属进行心理疏导，减轻我们的心理压力。正是某x主任热情的服务，为我们解除了心里顾虑，是贵院医护人员敬业的职业精神让我们决定可以把母亲的健康托付给贵院。

经过短短7天的治疗母亲的手又可以动了，看着家母病情一天天的好转，我们心里真是说不出的感激，由衷地对杨春杰主任及内四科全体医护人员精湛的医术感到钦佩。我感谢在家母治疗过程中所接触的每一位医护人员。虽然我可能连他们的姓名都叫不出来，甚至有些人都未曾谋面，但正是有了他们默默无闻的奉献，更使我们体验到某某x医院良好的医风和医德。

在此，我代表患者全体家属对某某人民医院某某主任及某某科全体医护人员表示最衷心地感谢。同时，我还要感谢医院的领导，感谢你们培养出像某某这样优秀的医生和某某科这样优秀的队伍。最后，让我发自肺腑地说一句：祝愿某某医院某某和全体医护人员身体健康、万事如意、全家幸福!

Once upon a time in a kingdom far away, there was an India princess called

Lily; she lived with her father in a desert, where the camel was always good and

healthy… One day Lily went off through the woods to find some food to eat up.

One or two times she would stop to admire the beautiful views, and try to aim at

those who bother her; when she returned, she dragged a big deer for supper… it

was also Dum for her to hit a very poor deer… Sometimes her father would say,

“Well done!”

After supper, Lily begged her father to let her go and have an adventure in

the woods. Her father agreed, and Lily got her bow and arrow, ready to have an

adventure. Along the way, she met a very lovely prince, and fell in love with

him at once, but how could she express her love to him?

She thought and thought about it along the way home. Until she figured out

that she had lost her way. She had decided to move along and try to find her way

back home, at last she found a big and tall tree that had branches that form a

room; just like a platform… She cut off some branches that made a small floor;

then she made the furniture, of sticks and wood and mud. In the evening, she

rested on the platform, and waited until the sun rise… At sun rise, Lily woke

up, she got her bow and arrow, ready to find home. But just as she was about to

get down from her platform, a crocodile blocked her way, she sat there looking

frightened.

At last some back men rode horses came to this place, they quietly without

any word, kicked the crocodile down; and then killed him. Lily finally got down

from the tree or platform, and went with the black men.

At last they arrived at the black men hiding place, and they fed her with

some delicious meals; during the great time that Lily was having some men with

white horses galloped toward Lily; she was still having delicious meals when

bomb! Lily was captured in a cage.

Lily was very worried, she yelled out for help! Finally the black men came,

and found the cage where Lily was in.

They hurried up, and used their stick and opened the cage. The white men

came, and were ready to battle; the black men made a signal to let Lily get out

of here. Lily got out and scrambled. When the black men returned, they found

Lily clasped on the ground… They carried Lily on their horses to their hiding

spots, and fed her some water and some meals.

At last Lily woke up, and saw the black men; she went to hug them and say

thanks for saving her. The next day the black men took Lily to find her parents.

Lily asked for a bowl of porridge as a meal, and set off on their black horse.

Along the way, they found a camp place; it was where Lily’s father lived! Lily

jumped off the black horse, and ran to her father and hugged him; they were all

very, very happy.

When the king saw the black men, he was very angry. But Lily said to him;

“Father, these are the men that saved me from the white men that had captured

me, they are amazing!” the king thought about this for a moment, and so decided

to let the black men go in peace.

At last Lily was at home, his father was so very glad to see her. During

their happiness together, the black men came back and prepared a special feast

for everyone to enjoy. The music began to blow, and they started to dance up and

down and twirling about in the air…

They ate their meals, and drank some porridge, and lived pretty happy. One

day when the black men were about to leave, the king asked; “Is there something

that you would like me to give to you?” “Dear king,” replied one of the black

men, “I would love you to grant me a very happy wish your honor, and that is to

let all the poor people survive from the dangerous stuff…” the black men wish

was at once granted, and all that was left was the action and the build.

Before the only time the king knew, that the black men was killed, he

killed himself, with always a smile on his face…

Lily on the other hand, was very sad about the wish; but she too, had

always a smile…

敬爱的叔叔阿姨：

您们好!您们辛苦了!我是湘__的周轩丞，首先请允许我代表我的全家向您们致敬!

春节本应阖家团圆，但因为新型冠状病毒的肆虐，您们穿上了沉重的防护服，暂别自己的小家，挥泪告别父母爱人和孩子，义无反顾地奔向抗疫第一线，令人感佩和泪目。

我和爸爸妈妈每天关注抗疫新闻，看着与日俱增的确诊人数，我的心就像跳跳球一样，紧张极了。而您们的敬业精神加上精湛的医术，让一个个好消息传来，遏制了病毒的嚣张气焰，大大消除了我们内心的恐慌。

84岁的钟南山爷爷成为我的超级偶像，他对别人说尽量不去武汉，自己却是第一批逆行向武汉的医学专家。妈妈指着那张钟爷爷在公交车上休息的照片对我说，成为钟爷爷这样的人就是我读书的终极目的。

我还在妈妈的手机上看到了一张张的对比照片，美丽的脸，因为长时间佩戴防护口罩“长了”很多又红又深的勒痕，成了“口罩脸”。那些勒痕里有叔叔阿姨们用泪水和汗水射出的一把把利剑，所向披靡，将新型冠状病毒歼灭干净。

还有那一张张请战书上鲜红的指纹，一个个坚定的眼神，一张张坚毅的年轻脸孔义无反顾地奔向抗击疫情的虎穴龙潭。叔叔阿姨们说，“十七年前，老一辈们用他们的力量来保护80、90后，今天换我们了!国家有事，我们扛。”

而我作为一名少先队员，叔叔阿姨们身上体现的这种舍小家为大家的中华民族优良传统美德我一定会传承下去，将来我也会尽我所能去帮助更多的人!现在，我一定听爸爸妈妈和老师的话，不出门不串门，戴口罩，勤洗手，好好在家自学，把基础打好，成为叔叔阿姨一样对祖国有贡献的人。

与新型冠状病毒厮杀的您们，已拼得伤痕累累，一天天的超负荷工作，已让您们身心憔悴。希望在日益增强的后勤保障做后盾下，您们不被病毒伤害;希望口罩后面，您们不再藏着泪水;希望您们多多保重，挤出时间去休息，病人需要您、家人需要您、国家更需要您;更希望所有人一起努力，消灭冠状病毒，让您们和家人早日团聚，让温暖的阳光沐浴着我们每一个人!

此致

敬礼!

Dear Grandpa Santa Claus,

Hello!

Im a big fan of yours! Listen to some of my aunt said, you are to give

children gifts, so, every Christmas, I spent my bed hang Christmas stockings,

hope that the next day to receive your gift, every morning, I can see your gift

in my stocking, I am very, very happy, because I received your gift.

Santa Claus grandpa, I envy oh, riding your small reindeer, flying in the

sky, if I remember correctly, you should have two rows of small reindeer, your

small reindeer grow like what? Ive always wanted to have one of my own. Flying

with you in the sky!

Time a year passed, I also grew up, at this time, I just know that there is

no Santa Claus, that I socks in the small gift, is the mother sent, but I am

still very happy, after all, this is my mother gave me.

Santa Claus grandpa, I want a few gifts, I hope you can promise me: I want

a pink pink puppy, I want a super cute Christmas doll......

Father Christmas, I wish you a smile, good health, good luck in your work,

and a happy family.

Bye bye! Father Christmas, I will write to you next time!

advance

Salute!

Your loyal fans

I have a close friend whose name is LiBing。 He is half head taller than me。

He likes to dress in blue jeans and he is very friendly to people。

我有一个好朋友名叫杰克。他比我高半头。他喜欢穿蓝色牛仔服，对人十分友好。

Once I was ill at home。 He lived far away from my house but he came and

helped me with my study。

有一次我生病在家。他家离我家很远，但他放学之后帮忙我学习。

He always says， "A life without a friend is a life without sunshine。" My

friend has done the same as he says。 Im happy to have such a friend。 If he is

in trouble， Ill try my best to help him。

他常说：“一个人没有朋友，就像生活没有阳光。”我的朋友这么说，也这么做了。有这样的朋友我真的很高兴(作文地带也推荐翻译为“自豪”)。假如他遇上麻烦，我必须会尽力帮忙他。

朋友不需要说的太多，只需要一个问候，就能让他心里泛起涟漪，作文地带期望每一个人都能够在您幸运的时候还记得起以前和你在一齐的朋友。

Dear Mary,

Thanks for your last letter. Im so glad that you have been able (at last! ) to arrange a holiday in Australia. As I fear I wont be able to meet you at the airport when you arrive, nor will I be able to be home until later in the afternoon, so here are some instructions and suggestions.

There is a bus from the airport to the city. It is much cheaper than a cab. Take the bus to the city and ask to get off at Town Hall railway station.

To get to my place in the eastern suburbs you have three options. You can either take a cab, a bus or the train. I suggest you take the train, since the airport bus will leave you right at the station. Get off at Cliff Station. From there you can either walk to my place (about ten minutes) or take a taxi. Probably you should take a taxi as you will have luggage.

When you arrive at my flat, ring the intercom for Flat 2. My friend Lillian will be at home and she will open the front door for you and let you into my flat.

Presumably you will be tired and want to sleep. But if you feel like some exercise after that long flight, you could stroll down to Cooper Park, which is only ten minutes away ? you can see it from the window.

Cheers and looking forward to seeing you.

Yours sincerely,

Annie

Dear John,

Long time no see, how is your summer vacation? I’m really sorry for writing so late. I have been too busy at this moment. I am happy to hear that you have traveled to Tibet at this summer holiday. How I wish I could go there with you!

Let me tell you something about my summer holiday. My summer holiday is rich and colorful. My parents take me to Hong Kong. That’s a beautiful place. I buy a lot of funny things at there. Such as pretty dresses, cute dolls and the snacks I never eat before. I really want to stay there and never come back! In a word, I really appreciate the life there.

I’m really looking forward to your reply!

亲爱的约翰：

好久不见，你的暑假过得还好吗?很抱歉那么晚才写信给你。这段时间我真的太忙了。我很高兴听说暑假你去了西藏旅游。我真希望我也和你一起去。

让我告诉你我的暑假趣事吧。我的暑假过得丰富多彩。我父母带我去了香港。那是个美丽的地方。我在香港买了很多新奇的玩意。比如漂亮的裙子，可爱的娃娃和一些从来没有吃过的零食。我真想待在那里再也不回来了。一句话，我喜欢那里的生活。

我很期待你的回复!

Nowadays, if we go on the street, we can find that fast food is everywhere,

the reason why the fast food is so popular lies on that it is convenient. People

can finish their meal quickly and spend more time to do work. Fast food indeed

saves people a lot of time, but it is not good for our health, we should not eat

it often.

I have a little dog. Its name is Googlo. He is three years old. He has two

big eyes. Theyre black. He has one blue ear and one black ear. He is

clever.

I like my Googlo. He likes playing with me. He can bark, jump and run. He

can play football, basketball and volleyball. He likes playing football very

much. He likes some fruit, such as apples, bananas, oranges, pears and

watermelons. He enjoys his snacks.

I love my dog--Googlo. He is very interesting.

亲爱的朋友：

你好!

收到这封信，你或许会感到很奇怪：怎么会突然收到了一封陌生人的信?难道是坏人?不要怕，我这次给你写信是想和你做“手拉手”好朋友的。

什么?你不认识我，怎么做好朋友?没关系，我现在就做个简单的介绍吧。我是福州市钱塘小学五年(9)班的苏亮天，我的个子有点矮，体型有点胖，头发很长，平时成绩较好，我待人热情、诚实友善，不过我有个缺点，它叫“马虎”，现在正努力甩掉它。

现在让你了解下我的家乡吧，我的家乡在福州，它享有“榕城”和“有福之州”的美名呢!福州地处亚热带，气候良好，一年四季都比较温暖，唯一不好的是下不了雪;福州空气清新，不像有的城市雾霾严重，而且年年都排空气清新城市的前十名呢!福州还有许多名胜风景，如美丽的西湖公园，开满鲜花的乌石山，古色古香的三坊七巷等等，福州的特产也很丰富，如圆滚滚的鱼丸、香喷喷的肉燕、又细又长的线面、典雅的油纸伞以及美轮美奂的软木雕等。希望你有空到我们家乡做客哦!

作为“手拉手”的好朋友，我想知道你的一些情况，如你家的经济情况以及你的生活情况，要是你需要帮助，我可以尽力而为，帮上一点忙，另外可以的话，请你把电话号码告诉我好吗?我们可以每个月通一次信，每周通一次电话，不过你如果没有电话，我们就通信好了，便宜又简单。在通信过程中我们可以把生活中的趣事分享给对方，还可以相互分享学习心得，我还能把照片寄给你，会把一些课外书寄给你看，你也要把读后感寄回来一起分享哦!

以上是我的“手拉手”建议，请你接受好吗?愿我们的友谊天长地久!

祝

身体健康 学习进步

Dear Judy,

I’m writing the letter for the purpose of conveying my thanks for your warm

reception during my recent visit to your country.

Your friendly warmth made it possible that I have a pleasant time in

America. And it was your generous help that allowed me the chance to know the

American culture better. In addition, I consider in an honor for me to make a

friends of you.

I hope that you would visit our country in due course so that I could enjoy

the opportunity to repay your kindness and refresh our friendship. Please accept

my sincere thanks. Wish you all the best.

Yours truly,

LiMing

My Darling McGeorge

You said that things seemed clearer when they were written down. Well, here

with a very boring letter in which I will try to put everything down so that you

may read and re-read it at a horror at your folly in getting involved with

me.

Deep breath. To begin with ,I love you. With a depth and passion and I have

felt for no one else in this life. And if it is astonishes you, it astonished me

as well. Not, I hasten to say, because you are not worth loving. Far from it.

Its just that, first of all,I swore I would not get involved with another

woman. Secondly, I have never had such a feeling before and it is almost

frightening. Thirdly, I would never have thought it possible that another human

being could occupy my waking and sleeping thoughts to the exclusion of almost

everything else. Fourthly, I never thought that even if one was in love one

could get so completely besotted with another person so that a minute away from

them felt like a thousand years. Fifthly, I never hoped,aspired, dreamed that

one can find everything one wanted in one person.

I was not such an idiot as to believe this was possible. Yet in you I have

found everything I want: youre beautiful, gay, giving, gentle, idiotically and

deliciously feminine, sexy, wonderfully intelligent and wonderfully silly as

well. I want nothing else in this life than to be with you, to listen and watch

you, your beautiful voice, your beauty, to argue with you, to laugh with you, to

show you things, to share things with you, to explore your magnificent mind, to

explore your wonderful body, to help you, protect you, serve you ,and...bash you

on the head when I think you are wrong...

Not to put too fine a point on it, I consider that I am the only man

outside mythology to have found crock of gold at the rainbows end. But, having

said all that, let us consider things in details. Dont let this become public,

but, well...I have one or two faults. Minor ones,I hasten to say. For example I

am inclined to be overbearing. I do it for the best possible motives, all

tyrants say that, but I do tend, without thinking, to treat people underfoot.

You must tell me when Im doing it to you, my sweet, because it can be a very

bad thing in a marriage.

Right, the second blemish. This actually is not so much a blemish of

character as a blemish of circumstance. Darling, I want you to be you on your

own right, and I will do everything I can to help you in this. But you must take

into consideration that I am also me in my own right. And that I have a head

start on you. What Im trying to say is that you must not feel offended if you

are sometimes treated simply as my wife. Always remember that what you lose on

the swings you gain on the roundabouts. But i am an established ‘creature’ in

the world, and so on occasions you will have to live in my shadow. Nothing gives

me less pressure than this. But it is a fact of life that has to be faced.

Third, a very important and nasty, blemish. Jealousy. I dont think you

know what jealousy is, thank god, in the real sense of the word. I know that you

have felt jealousy over Lincolns wife and child, but this is what I call normal

jealousy, and this to my regret, is not what Ive got. What I have got is a

black monster and any goodness that I have in my make-up. It is really a Jekyll

and Hyde situation... my Hyde is stronger than my good sense and defeats me,

hard though I try. As I told you, I have always known that this lurks within me,

but I could control it, and my monster slumbered and nothing happened to awake

it. Then I met you and I felt my monster stir and become half-awake when you

told me of Lincoln and others you have known, would you like to end with your

letter my monster came out of its lair, black, irrational, bigoted, stupid,

evil, malevolent. You never know how terribly corrosive jealousy is; It is a

physical pain as though you have swallowed acid or red hot coals. It is the most

terrible of feelings. But you cant help it at least I cant and god knows Ive

tried. I dont want any ex-boyfriends sitting in church when I marry you. On our

wedding day I want nothing but happiness both for you and me, but I know I wont

be happy if there is a church full of your ex-conquests. When I marry you I will

have no past, only a future. I dont want to drag my past into our future and I

dont want you to do it, either. Remember I am jealous of you because I love

you. You are never jealous of something you dont care about.

Okay enough about jealousy. Now let me tell you something. I have seen a

thousand sunsets and sunrises, in a thousand sunsets and sunrises on land where

it floods forest mountains with honey-coloured light, at sea where it rises and

sets like a blood orange in a multi-coloured nest of cloud, slipping in and out

of the vast ocean. I have seen thousand moons. Harvest moon is like gold coins,

winter moons as white as ice chips, new moons like baby swans feathers. I have

seen seas as smooth as if painted, coloured like shot silk or blues as a

kingfisher or transparent as glass or black and crumpled with foam, moving

ponderously and murderously. I have felt winds straight from the south pole,

bleak and wailing like a lost child; Winds as tender and warm as a lovers

breath; Winds that carried the astringent smell of salt and the death of

seaweeds; Winds during the moist rich smell of a forest floor, the smell of a

million flowers. Fierce winds that churned and moved the sea like yeast, or

winds that made the waters lap at the shore like a kitten. Ive known silence:

the cold, earthy silence at the bottom of a newly dug well; The implacable stony

silence of a deep cave; The hot, drugged midday silence when everything is

everything is hypnotized and still moved into silence by the eye of the sun. The

silence when great music ends. Ive heard that summer cicadas cry so that the

sound seems stitched into your bones. Ive heard a tree frogs in an

orchestration as complicated as Bach singing in a forest lit by a million

emerald fireflies. Ive heard the Keas calling over the grey glaciers that

groaned to themselves like old people as they inched. Their way to the sea. Ive

heard the hoarse street vendor cries of the mating Fur seals as they sang to

their sleek golden wives, the crisp staccato admonishment of the rattlesnake,

make the cobweb squeak of the Bat and the belling roar of the red deer knee-deep

in purple heather. Ive heard wolves baying at a winters moon, read howlers

making the forest vibrate with their roaring cries. Ive heard the squeak, purr

and grunt of a hundred multi-coloured reef fishes. I’ve seen hamming birds

flashing like opals round a tree of scarlets blooms, humming like a top. I have

seen flying fish skittering like quicksilver across the blue waves, drawing

silver lines on the surface with their tails. Ive seen Spoonbills flying home

to roost like a scarlet banner crossed the sky. Ive seen Whales, black as tar,

cushioned on a cornflower blue sea,creating a Versailles of fountain with their

breath. I have watched butterflies emerge and sit, trembling, while the sun

irons their wings smooth. I watch tigers, like flames, mating in the long grass.

I have been dive -bombed by an angry Raven, black and glossy as the Devils

hoof. Ive lain in water warm as milk, soft as silk, while around me played a

host of Dolphins. I have met a thousand animals and see a thousand wonderful

things.

All this I did without you. This was my loss. All this I want to do with

you. This will be my gain. All this I would gladly have forgone for the sake of

one minute of your company, for your love, your voice, your eyes, hair, lips,

body, and above all for your sweet, ever surprising mind which is an enchanting

quarry, in which it is my privilege to delve.

Gerald Durrell