Fate

In a place far away where the lotus never dies,

Where small children smile behind the steaming rice,

And men live in wide building sites,

In a place far away, where the sun is orange at sunset and sunrise

And a layer of smoke veil the lakes and the sky,

I cannot see the sun rise but I’m up so early,

I see the buildings so neat, so tidy,

Avoid the silent bikes and the crazy taxis.

Cardboard monuments  modelled on the real thing,

I hear some birds, I see some lost dogs, some true forgotten nature,

Everyone live in harmony and everything has a meaning,

I can run at night, my priority is my safety.

I drink out of fake coca cola cans,

And there’s a Starbuck at every corner of the street,

It’s a world of delicious cakes and bread, except the bread is a bit too sweet,

And the cakes are too creamy.

I live in a world of dreams but I’m here by default,

Not because I’m needed.

I thought I would see the mountains, the rivers and the panda forests,

The Forbidden City and the rice terraces.

But instead I’m trapped here during Chinese New Year,

In a deserted city, even the fireworks have stopped detonating,

And I should enjoy the silence that make my children sleep.