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.

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