Teenage

I was a girl in the village doing all right
then I became a princess overnight…

The race has begun.
Our paddles follow
the rhythm of the drum’s heartbeat.
Pulling and pushing the salt water,
the sun shines down with heat.

As I dip my paddle into the water to the pound of the drum,
I reminisce about how this ritual came to be.
The tradition of the Dragon Boat Festival.
278 B.C. was the year it all began.
The year a poet named Qu Yuan
jumped into Miluo River
with a rock tied to himself.
The locals raced across the river to save him.
Finding the poor man had drowned,
They threw glutinous rice balls down the stream,
hoping the fish would eat those
instead of his remains.

Today, as I use all my strength against the current,
an old tradition is re-enacted.
Celebrating this festival that began as a loss.
I see 20 oarsman glistening in sweat,
from the blazing summer sun shining down on us.
As the drums beat in my ears,
I think of my family at home preparing for this evening.
My children decorating themselves,
with colourful silk threaded perfume pouches,
hoping to keep the evil away.
My red silk clad wife waits for the steaming Zongzi,
glutinous rice stuffed with,
red bean paste, chestnuts and lotus seeds
wrapped in bamboo leaves.
She hangs Mugwort leaves and Calamus on top of the doors.
The strong fresh scent trickles through the house
blocking all diseases from entering.

I hear the drums beat louder and louder,
as we race to the finish line.
Listening to the people cheering,
and the sound of splashing,
we shoot across the row of red flags,
ending with perfectly synchronized strokes.

I wish I may

I wish I might

I wish I was a star tonight

A star so big and bright

That you may wish upon me

Instead I’m not

And still you saw me

And made me shine

Then you wished

Upon my will

That you leave

And I must grant you

To leave and let you go

So I do

I watch you leave

Walk and leave me here

Once a tiny star

Shone so bright

And nothing then a black hole now

The insecurities that develop within the mind
Are caused by a lack time
That we have do what we enjoy,
so we put on this emotional decoy
And we put on this physical façade
And once we are by ourselves it dissolves
And we start to think of all the things we hate about ourselves.
It’s hard to put those emotions on a shelf
When they’re constantly ringing in the back of your head
Reminding you of what you did and what you said
These are the insecurities that develop within the mind
When you lack the time
To give and receive deserved love
And it seems like he’s torturing you from above,
but I promise you that’s not the case
I promise you he’s your saving grace
And I know you’re pained
And I know you feel drained,
but just pick yourself up
I promise things will change

Problems are bait,
Tempting you forwards,
Until it is too late…

Problem never warn you,
They are just around the corner,
When you turn your back… they have you.

Problems are mischief makers,
They happen just at the wrong time,
The time you’re with your wife… or that quick half down the pub.
Fighting is not fine!

Problems are all around,
They encircle you…
And wait.

Problems are bait,
Tempting you forwards,
Until it is too late…

We are split
You dead
Me alive

There are so many ways to say goodbye
Goodbye, adios, au revoir
But there is nothing I can say

You were mine
And I was yours
And you will be with me
Always

When you woke up
You were my alarm
When you smiled
You were my sun
When you cared for me
You were my water

But now I am alone
With you not by my side
I cannot see

Life goes on
Who know for how long?
But it will continue

Love goes on
Forever and ever
Until death us do part

Friends are forever
Keeping you safe
But not always there

Forever and ever
Things will go on

A seed reaching… reaching
Reaching like a small child
Seed reaching… big and bright

A petal is growing… growing
Racing to get the sun
Petal growing, which leads the rest

A thistle protecting the plant… protecting… protecting
The enemy about to attack
The thistle protecting its great leader

The enemy recoils… recoils
Enemy blood sneaking out
The enemy has lost… lost

The plant is old… old
Slowly dying the mighty tower falls

The leaves escaping… escaping
Abandoning the dying leader

The plant has died… died
Lying in the grand dirt coffin
Waiting to be resurrected!

It hurts, it pains
The lies of a man you love- a love so twisted and bent

The ache so grand
That the tears won’t dry
And fall so brazenly and permanently
On the scars that won’t go away

The attachment won’t be forever
Yet, you stay and obey
In hope change will be for the better

Illustrated and shrouded by the dimming days
Confined and constricted by words so demeaning
In a room that lacks the sun’s rays

It hurts, and it pains
A being so restrained and blinded by apologies
From a man that holds no truth or shame

Unhappy and alone
And yet, it will never be undone
Until you break free and away
Or resign yourself to hurt and
A never ending cycle of everlasting pain

Glittering, gleaming, shining so brightly;
Glowing, twinkling, shimmering lightly;
Sparkling, glistening, floating freely;
The stars in the sky float above me so gaily.

Soaring, flying, gliding swiftly;
Leaping, bounding, springing nimbly;
Sailing through the sky so quickly;
The stars in the sky light up this city.

Up, up, up far away in the atmosphere;
There lies a star named for a long gone traveller.
Up, up, up in the sky lies Maria’s Star;
‘Tis Maria that the world adores.

But her life was too brief.
She drew her last breath,
And it was all too soon.
And all the world wept; even the moon.

The brightest stars burn the quickest.
All things someday cease to exist.
And all the while the world shall wail,
For all those who have fallen too soon through the veil.

For Maria, the beautiful traveler;
For her lover, mother, father, and brother;
For all those who lost their life before it could truly begin.
The world sobbed for those who disappeared.

Remember the ones who burn so brightly!
Don’t go quietly!
Even if the fiery powers of Hell tempt you with pleasures unknown;
Never give in!

Honor the ones who lived too short a life!
Do not give in to temptation or lies!
Live a life that is full of meaning.
Never stop believing.

Should the forces of Hell come knocking on your doorstep;
Slam the door!
And when you look into the sky that fateful night;
See Maria’s Star in flight.

Know deep in your heart;
Perhaps, you were set apart,
Like so many others before you.
And when it comes time to say adieu,
You shall have a home in Heaven.
Just like all the others before you.