A Winning Poem!!!

As I slip on my jade green qipao
I peek at myself in the reflection in the gold Bagua mirror
Dazzling sequins on Chinese silk reflect the light in the room
Mama comes in to wish me luck tonight
Tonight, the spring Lantern Festival, the night to find a sweetheart.

Clutching my ruby lantern, I stroll down the street lit by the full moon
A red marked tangerine in my right hand
I hear a calm and soothing flute melody ringing in the background
As I approach the pier, I throw my tangerine into the sea
Continuing the tradition of finding a future husband

Floating with the current along the pier,
My fate flows down joining the other bobbing tangerines
Clusters of multicolored girls in glowing silk stand on the harbor waiting
Shyly, I nervously skip down along the pier following my destiny

On the other side, I see a slender young man
Eearing the grey changshan of a scholar
He scoops up a tangerine with grace
The lilting sound of the flute makes me tremble with excitement
As he holds up the fruit, I gasp and see my red mark
I excitedly glide toward him and look up into his dark almond eyes
This is what my heart was waiting for

Qipao – A Chinese traditional one piece dress for women
Bagua – A round mirror surrounded by an octagonal frame with the Bagua design
Changshan – A Chinese traditional dress for men