come home, we will enjoy the spring

Come home.
This year, we’ll enjoy the spring.

*

from “Rows of Small Mountains” by Li Qingzhao (translated by Wendy Chen)

I was inspired by the lines from the above poem (and some intense longing). This is a prompt from the Bibliomancy Oracle. It can work in tender ways.

photo by Han Chenxu from Unsplash



come home, we will enjoy the spring


on new year's day
i switch on all
the lights in the house
because the new year
will be much brighter
like this, or so
the ancients said.

i try my best but there is still so much dust on the window grills, i do not have your eye for details.

this year, we will enjoy the spring.
i have some flowers
in the old vase
there is beer in the fridge
and oranges and cola
and some prawns and greens
which i may or may not cook

i try my best but i am getting old, my memory misses a step and i wonder about that teardrop on my cheek.

come home, come home,
we will enjoy the spring.
we will switch on the lights
we will knock off the beer
we will eat the food i cooked
we will hug and love and live
like the old days


08/09/2019
**********

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Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (Acoustic Cover by MonaLisa Twins)

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© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ) 2022

River Hongbao 2018

Last evening, my family and I were at the River Hongbao 2018 at the Marina Bay area, Singapore. The event was billed as a "eleven-day extravaganza of lights, sights, and sounds to usher in the Year of the Dog." There were performances and fireworks, but we were mainly there for the thematic lanterns.

Though this is a Chinese festival event, we were heartened to see people of many races attending. There were Malays, Indians, Bangladeshis, Caucasians, in addition to the mainly Chinese crowd.

We took some photos of the event with our smartphones. The quality may not be there, and we have reduced the sizes for faster loading. Hope you can still enjoy it. 

A section of the crowd.

Year of the Dog!

Snake!

This is a pretty elaborate lantern, as tall as an actual shophouse.

The Wishing Fountain.  People were throwing coins trying to hit the bells attached to the fountain.


All photos by dsnake1 and YunPing





year of the dog

crowds on the Helix Bridge -

on the bay,
lantern lights
city lights.

---

"you feel you are not alone.
It breathes, it moves with a pulse of our own "

-- dsnake1, The River

---

© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ) 2018

taking a break...

photo by dsnake1





Dear Readers,

I am taking a short break for the coming Lunar New Year holidays. Should be back posting in the middle of February, if I am feeling not too lazy.

---

岁岁平安

---

© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ) 2016

in the year of the goat

The Lunar New Year is already four days old, and I am really enjoying myself these few days, doing all the things I liked, like goofing off, eating and drinking, and abusing the video game machine. And writing a blog post again.

Let's hope it will be a good year too. Tomorrow, it will be back to the daily grind.

photo by dsnake1



in the year of the goat


let us then
be like the lotus
blooming out of mud
resilient & hopeful
or the sparrows that play
under the shadow of the bodhisattva
knowing that they will be protected
or the first light beams of the dawn
true and sharp and fearless
let us sing tunes
even without words
let us be then
all of these.



19/02/2015
**********

---

岁岁平安

---

© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ) 2015

red

On the last day of this month is the Chinese New Year. And I have barely started preparing for it. For starters, there is the annual spring cleaning of the home. Then there will be trips to the malls and supermarkets to get new clothes, food and drinks. Knowing me, it will be all very last-minute running around again.

To the Chinese, red is an auspicious colour. In the New Year, red will be everywhere, in every household, in the clothes we wear, the food, the decorations, hongbaos, flowers, and greeting cards.

So yes, a short poem, a haiku (what's better than an eastern poetry form for the occasion?) and then it's off for the holidays!

scan of a greeting card



red




            red
the colour of your lips
         in spring





26/01/2014
**********

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萬事如意

---

© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ), 2014

a prayer for the year of the snake

It is another week before the Lunar New Year. To the Chinese diaspora, it is one of the biggest days in our calendar.

I still have lots to do, getting new clothes, spring-clean the house, stock up on food and drinks, and there's only a week to do.

The past years haven't been too kind, personally. I pray for good health and happiness for my family in this coming new year. I ask for harmony and reconciliation. This poem is not your typical festive poem, even dark, but it was written from the heart.

And yes, to all my readers everywhere, "Gong Xi Fa Cai"! :)

photo by chamomile
image from morguefile.com




a prayer for the year of the snake



the wind must blow gently
i, we must make this peace
it is tiring, very tiring
to always clench your fist
remember to at least
let go, even for a while
and then just listen
not just the whisper
of the breeze
but through
the babble
the demon screams
in the head
just listen
again
the strings
of the heart


remember, before,
you were moved
a baby's cry in the night
the shuffle of little feet
little voices reciting poetry
and you laughed


the wind must blow gently
i, we must make this peace.


01/02/2013
**********

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Shared on Poetry Pantry #135 at Poets United.

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© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ) 2013

red

The Lunar New Year is just around the corner and there's still loads of spring cleaning and shopping to do. I have been very busy at work lately, so I will just post a past effort for this Poets Rally (Week 60)

To the Chinese, red is an auspicious colour. In the New Year, red will be everywhere, in every household, in the clothes we wear, the food, the decorations, flowers, and greeting cards.

To all my readers celebrating the occasion, have a Happy and Prosperous Lunar New Year!





scan by dsnake1




red


Red is the colour of the blood in my veins
is the colour of kinship
is the colour of life.

Red is the colour of the petals of peony
is the colour of luscious lips
is the colour of beauty

Red is the colour of the face of Guan Yu
is the colour of autumn trees
is the colour of loyalty

Red is the colour of memorial tablets on altars
is the colour of candles
is the colour of faith

and red is the colour of my beating heart
is the colour of your blush
when we first held hands
is the colour of our love.



14.02.07
********









© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ) 2012

spring

I wanted to post this on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and this is the 5th day already...

scan from a greeting card



Spring



spring-

a wind chime
sings



03/02/2011
**********

恭喜發財




© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 )

Taking a break..

image by dsnake1
scanned from a greeting card



I am taking a break (seems i have a habit of taking breaks recently) for the Chinese New Year.

It's just around the corner, on February 7th, and I have loads of things to do. There's the little matter of cleaning the house. Throwing away some junk. There are new clothes to get ( a must!). Food. Sweets. Candies. Oranges. Oh yes, beer. Lots of trips to the malls.

Without the last minute, there won't be any work done. I thrive on that. So I will be missing for a while, but knowing the junkie in me, I will sneak onto the Net when there is an opportunity.

Gong Xi Fa Cai to all my friends and readers!