The Scribbles of a Lonely Traveller

Once upon a time
I was a small mediocre shrub
never appreciative
of being insignificant
until one day
I saw a tall tree
colossal and magnificent
being pulled up by the roots
by a storm

Before a fierce cold front
is going to hit the land
the weather station
always warns in advance
so that
people have enough time
to take cover
in a warmer place
In contrast
it's so unfair of you
to storm me
every time
out of blind impulse
that I fall an easy victim
to your sentimentalism

I wrote a poem for you
haven't sent it though
still kept in a jar
beside a bunch of purple lavender
Though you're half a world away
yet are words the only way
to convey deep affection
if you're a soul mate of mine


Revised

Once upon a spring
you were a young poppy
enigmatic and outstanding
in a green field
and I an unsophisticated bee
dreamily
beguiled by your beauty
so naive
as to believe
there would be no winter
on earth
as long as we fell in love
with each other
and stuck together
Now where should I retrieve
my poppy love
in a snow covered field

There was once a nightingale
who often flew to my backyard
where there were lush green trees
and refreshing air
I liked her
but never disturbed her
when she was singing joyfully
and melodiously
One night
when I was alone
feeling lonely
she happened to be creating
exquisite sounds there
I couldn't help myself
and burst out
"I adore your enchanting voice
and your beauty
Please don't ever leave me"
The next morning
she was nowhere to be found

Where have you gone
Come back tonight, will you
Do you still remember
those most famous lines
you once wrote
"All great minds have been lonely
since ancient times
Only those who drink
will leave their good fame behind"
So stupid was I
that I couldn't grasp the true meaning
until now
until my hair all but turn grey
I'm not an expert at alcohol or wine
but on this lonely winter night
I'd like to invite you
enthusiastically and sincerely
to get head over heels drunk
fall asleep eternally
and wake up no longer
so that we might forget this sorrow
of the universe forever

Alcohol tastes bitter
but life seems even more bitter
That's why people are ready
to get intoxicated
when there're brandy or whisky
Roses are thorny
but why do I need you
like crazy
From time to time
as for me
being pricked is much better
than being lonely

I never knew
you could be the string
and I was the kite
that you securely tied to
Without you
I keep falling
falling from the sky
I'm not a prophet
how should I know
you could be the wing
Without you
I simply keep falling
like a bird with only one wing
falling from the sky
I never dreamed
that you were the sunshine
Now you're gone
raindrops simply keep falling
falling from the sky
like my teardrops
falling in the cold season

You've built a palace
to be more precise
a cobweb
in a field of poppies
You're more bewitching
to be honest
than all the young lasses
in red
Now that
I've responded to your
unmistakable invitation
and come
all the way
before your castle
only to meet
with a closed door
If you don't intend
to let me in
why bother growing
those inviting flowers

Not having seen you
for a long time
I'm missing you
and more the grassy creek
in front of your home
where we used to frolic
sing and swim
I wonder
whether it has been clogged
with fallen leaves
It's been ages
since the last time
I cleaned it up with a hoe

After many a day
of cold and wet weather
the sun's finally willing to appear
just one day
before Chinese Near Year
all the kids are more than happy
to come out to play
in the school yard
If you're a pretty bud
ready to be in full bloom
and in full swing
then you don't have to worry
it'll be a spring
without a butterfly or bee

Once upon a time
due to living in a dream
I often visioned
I could soar high
like an magnificent eagle
hovering in the sky
I could swim gracefully
like a white swan
floating in a pretty lake
Though it's not easy
to face the music
yet the fact is
that I'm ordinary
as a mediocre sparrow
Such being the case
let me be myself
and enjoy a simple life
by chitchatting
here today
and there tomorrow

After having waited
for ages and ages
for the dull gloomy days
of cold wind and wet weather
to pass away
I'm clearly aware
the spring is finally here to stay
Like running across the one
in the middle of nowhere
whom I've longed most to see
night and day
on the spur of the moment
I become speechless

Spring comes again today
as well as yesterday
Without exception
it'll be here tomorrow
with the warm sunshine
and the day
after tomorrow
It's a pity, though
our spring has long gone
along with the spent flower
of last year
Conceivably
unless in the next life
it'll no longer
have a chance to return

Since it's no use
reminiscing the past glory
of yesterday
at the end of the lane
we may as well take a rest
for a while
appreciating the serenity
of a forest
or praising the grandeur
of a mountain