Chen-ou Liu's Translation Project: First English-Chinese Haiku and Tanka Blog

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Crabwalk: A Poem Sequence

I

Every night
I slept in Taipei
but woke up in Ajax

My mind was winged
by a yearning
for things not yet lost

II

An immigrant to Ajax
I'd stayed there six years
but at night in dreams
Taipei was still my home

Last week, I drove south
across the Canadian border
Reality dawned and I realized
From now on Ajax will be
where I am from

III

Sometimes I dream in Chinese
I dream my father's dream
I awake and become Eric

Sunlight streams into my room
caressing me with its warmth
as it welcomes me home


Spring, 2009 Issue of The Stellar Showcase Journal