WILD RHODODENDRONS
Pwu Jean Lee
April is the most unfaithful month
of the year. In the ravine
the wild azaleas are disloyal,
The rhododendrons arrogant,
The mountain-laurels treacherous.
Although Spring showers the ravine
with crystal beads and chains,.
The waterfalls drape the cliffs
With thunders and dragons,
The mountain-mists arise to submits.
The heart of the blossoms still stiff
Beneath the green bulbs, silentlly
Refuse the cold calls by the Master
To unveil florals' stunning beauty
To dance to a Calendar.
The unwilling blossoms wrapped
in green Burgas are cocoons
of white, pink and purple butterflies
That failed to obey the order
Of A man or a clock.
Indifferent to visitations,
Insensitive to desertion,
Wild rhododendrons and sisters
Azaleas and laurels, nurtured by waterfalls
And mountain-mists will make Tides
And Waves of blushing blossoms
To flood the entire valley. Until then,
We shall patiently wait, for the heart
Of wild rhododendrons has her own
Calendar and Stage,
Like river-tides,
Earthquakes,
Asteroids,
Comets,
Love.
---Digman Falls
Pwu Jean Lee is the author of the book of poems, East Wind, West Rain. Proficient in both English and Chinese, she has won various writing competitions in both languages. Since 2002, her verses ‘A Female Son' excerpted from this book were etched on the marble wall of the PENN STATION in Manhattan, New York City. The exhibition along with poems by Walt Whitman and eleven other American Poets is for permanent display.