By Yuan Changming
Speech Acts: Another Lesson in Chinese Characters
说 /shuo/: to say is to make an exchange in words 语 /yu/: language is defined in terms of what I say 课 /ke/: a lesson should be learned by talking about the result 谎 /huang/: to lie is to throw a remark from the wasteland 论 /lun/: to argue means to speak in a logic way 议 /yi/: discussions are utterances about isms 读 /du/: reading entails commenting on what’s sold 记 /ji/: to memorize is to talk to oneself 诺 /nuo/: promising means talking against many an if
Plenism
Even in this very moment
My mind is full
Of struggling presences
Such is
Always the case:
The moment its door opens
It is infused with whims & wishes
I stop to squeeze out
Each bubbling perception
But it always returns in a deformed form
To occupy the vacated room
Which has held part of me
You long to become mindful
Of a spiritual vacuum
Yet it never allows for
The briefest moment of emptiness
Strike
While the iron
Is hot. Cheers
While we have
Wine to drink
Speak out aloud
While our throats
Are not cut yet
Keep eyes open while
The butterfly passes
In sight. Wait
While the best
Is yet to come
Water the flower
While it is still
Fresh & tender
Reserve a seat
Up in heaven
While the dream
Continues. Take
The Way, & feel
Happy while
Our hearts beat
With hope
Yuan Changming edits Poetry Pacific with Allen Yuan in Vancouver. Credits include Pushcart nominations, poetry awards as well as publications in Best of the Best Canadian Poetry (2008-17),& BestNewPoemsOnline,among others.
Academy of the Heart And Mind 