Strangeness Of Our Souls

Strangeness Of Our Souls
© Surazeus
2022 12 21

Soft snow highlights the beauty of her eyes 
which emanate passion for this weird life 
so my heart becomes vast castle of light 
when she smiles as she sips hot chocolate, 
and all the flashing lights on Christmas trees 
illuminate the strangeness of our souls. 

Many years after she left her hometown 
to work in Shining City at the bank 
she strolls narrow stone streets by the canal 
where she played while her ma ran the food store, 
and tears stream down her eyes with ache of joy 
as she watches her ghost play without care. 

Pushing open old wood doors carved with demons, 
she lights incense, bows, and kneels on the pillow 
to palm hands before statue of Kwan Yin 
meditating on the lotus with a peach, 
whose merciful eyes gaze into her heart 
with compassion for strangeness of our souls. 

Lifting eye-phone up sideways with both hands, 
she films the young woman with long black hair, 
decked in light-green Tang hanfu fairy gown, 
who plays haunting melody of mute sorrow 
while plucking strings on the polished guzheng 
which casts magic spell on our entranced hearts. 

Climbing stone steps up to South Heaven Gate, 
we enter Temple of the Blue Dawn Clouds 
that shines near rugged top of Mount Taishan, 
and pray for fertile fortune of true love 
to Bixia Yuanjun, Goddess of Dawn Light, 
who bestows fortune on children of truth. 

Gliding on silver water of Li River 
in swirling mist of the Pearl River Basin 
among tall sky-piercing peaks of Guilin, 
we cuddle on wood sampan river boat 
with silent awe at eerie ambiance 
that accentuates strangeness of our souls. 

This vast soul-nurturing land of lush vales, 
where her ancestors thrived thousands of years, 
welcomes her home with ache of wordless joy, 
and gives her hot bowl with garlic beef noodles 
so she consumes sweet spirit of her land 
that wakens ancient memories of her heart. 

Riding plane high over Strait of Anian 
that gleams between Siberia and Alaska, 
we share photos and stories of our trip, 
then she sighs she is glad to return home 
after showing me rich land of her birth 
which stimulates new strangeness of our souls.