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By Changming Yuan

Yaleugooli   While nobody has ever been to heaven (or hell) I can readily go to Yaleugooli, my inner dwelling More charming than Maui and Palawan combined With a beach more sensational than El Nido or Lopes Mendes; in particular, a cave more majestic Than Sơn Đoòng, where I cannot only get myself Totally lost in seeing countless wonders of nature But also take a respite as long as I like; an other Eden where I can enjoy being one and the same with Hyperion (from North California?) as my soulmate Or live an immortal life like the Metasequoia King Near my native village in central China, if ever I I so choose when I feel disturbed by earthly winds Or suffer from insomnia in the heart of winter night   Yes, I am already living in Yaleugook, a true paradise While they could only wish to enter heaven after they die Home Tea Party   Each time I gather with one or two old friends From history or literature for a couple of tea, I Set my clock about half an hour later       Than all the time devices in the outside world Just to make us a group somewhat out of fashion So we can enjoy each other’s company in the past   Totally unaware of the happenings in the present moment There we are about to sip from my proud enameled teapot When police sirens disturb us, as if       To remind us of the crimes and accidents in the street Cannot help wondering: are we not allowed to keep a distance To reflect upon, or to predict the future as posthumous? Granville Street Seen from Home   Water splashing against walls And windows with each car Passing by, colored umbrellas moving Above unidentifiable human legs Red light blinking towards the storm and White noise, every cherry tree skeleton Trying hard to find a shelter, a long-necked man Hopping around with yesterday’s Vancouver Sun on top off his bald head An oversized truck full of Thick cement pipes making a large turn As a bus is waiting for strangers To get off or on, all in wet cartharsis Aubade: My Home Is a Hotel   You might have stayed up All night, clicking at every link To your daydream, searching For a soulmate in the cyberspace   You might have enjoyed an early dose Of original sin between sleep and wake Before packing up all your seasonal greetings With your luggage to catch the first plane   Or sitting up in meditation With every sensory cell Widely open to receive Blue dews from nirvana   But you did not. Rather, you have just Had another long fit of insomnia and Now in this antlike moment, you are Imagining a lucky morning glow   That is darting along the horizon  House Advisory    Roof: Always stand high & look afar beyond! Attic: Fix the leak first! Ceiling: Never hit the ceiling with megalomaniac! Wall: Turn around before getting a nasty bump on your head! Balcony: Stand aside to take a bird’s view of the situation! Window: let some light enter your life! Floor: Set your feet firmly in reality! Stairs: [Watch your step! Or] Take   one step at        a   time!   A few more from fixtures:   Air conditioner: Keep cool & calm! Bed: Dare to dream! Clock: Treasure every minute! Calendar: Go along with the times! Mirror: It’s necessary to examine your life from time to time! Table lamp: Live to illuminate others! Toilet: [Most important,] just let        it          go        !!     Home Comedy: for Helena Qi Hong   1/ Inferno: Home Is Where the Soul Is   With neither a map nor a torchlight How can I get home after losing my way In such a starless night?   Ah, I am really dying of cold, thirst & hunger Would you go out of your way to pick me up?     2/ Purgatorio: Home Is Where Love Is       As small as the screen of a cellphone But much larger than the largest continent on earth This virtual land boasts our private Peach Flower Garden built with every thought & image digitalized & Auto-managed by the powerful algorithm of Love                                                       Yes, deeply lost in this land Of tenderness, warmth and spiritual intercourse & Joined rather than separated by the Pandemic We live deep in the heart of feel, where we forget to Ask: “Which dynasty is it now outside of our garden?”   3/ Paradiso: Home Is Where the Heart Is   While nobody has ever been to heaven (or hell) I can readily go to Gaxyland, my inner dwelling More charming than Maui and Palawan combined With a beach more sensational than El Nido or Lopes Mendes; in particular, a cave more majestic Than Sơn Đoòng, where I cannot only get myself Totally lost in seeing countless wonders of nature But also take a respite as long as I like; an other Eden where I can enjoy being one and the same with Hyperion (from North California?) as my soulmate Or live an immortal life like the Metasequoia King Near my native village in central China, if ever I so choose when I feel disturbed by earthly winds Or suffer from insomnia in the heart of winter night   Yes, I am already living in Gaxyland, an earthly paradise While others could only wish to enter heaven after they die My Neighbour across the Street       She spends all her visible time Being exquisite in a history with no disturbance    Living alone in a quite old bungalow, she has Few visitors year round, except perhaps Her unseen relatives. Her voice never heard Her movements always leisurely, walking in & Out, mowing her slightly slanting lawn, taking Meticulous care of her heathers & other Tender plants. Sometimes dressed in a color Like a bloated blue bell, or a shrunk grizzly Sometimes wearing a high hat reminiscent of An antelope. Our only communication for The past decade has been her old black fit Parked occasionally on our side of the street (& our red civic almost touching her front yard)   Observing from my high window, I often cannot Help wondering if she is a metamorphosed mice In some lab, or myself in a segregated zoo