Bloom

Yutang Lin

White lotuses blooming on fairy's palm,
Alas! All in all, there were twenty some.
Hoped to meet again in this fleeting life;
Only two days later already faded away! .

Comments:

In Chinese cactus is called "fairy's palm."

Day before yesterday while taking a walk I came upon a house with a huge cactus in its front yard. It is about one and half a person's height with over twenty white flowers blooming on it. The round flowers shaped like deep cups. This morning my family walked there to see them. Alas! Only one remained blooming while all the rest were hanging loose. The message of flowers was as such; fortunate encounters are rare to repeat. Teachings on impermanence can be found wherever one sets the eyes to.

Written in Chinese on October 14, 2001
Translated on October 16, 2001
El Cerrito, California

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