Global Warming

Yesterday, the impending storm approached Southern California like a coiling but menacing dragon. Naval ships set sailed to calmer waters in San Diego. People panicked and started to fill up their cars and rushing to get bottled waters. And of course, snarling traffic materialized at the stores. As for me, I was in the comfort of the home, doing house cleaning and waiting eagerly for my thirsty garden to embrace the wetness of the land.

This morning, there was no rain but a cloudy sky. Sure, there were news of San Diego being flooded, flash floods occurring in Palm Springs where streets had become streams. But by late afternoon, the sun came out shining brightly and hotly as if nothing had happened. The storm had whimpered away like some sort of a snake in the grass. For me, it was a disappointment. I wished it could rained for another day for my backyard garden.

I suppose troubles don’t come to those who are prepared. My previous poem about trouble for one place is boon for another holds true. Poetic licence is taken liberally in this creation…

1 昨日無端風雨暴 For no reason, the heavy rains came yesterday,
2 今朝照常老君竃 But this morning, it is hot as usual like the brazier of Lao Tzu.
3 難測生命乃自然 So natural is such life’s unpredictability,
4 夏天翻覆是人造 But the topsy turvy nature of summer is manmade.

1 Referring to California’s first tropical storm since 1939 on 20 Aug 2023.

2 老君 short for 太上老君- the Supreme Venerable Sovereign. He has a furnace to melt the elements to forge his pills of immortality. This line sets up the scenario for the last line.

4 A veiled stab mankind for causing global warming and there are still naysayers out there living in ignorance.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daode_Tianzun

Monday, August 21, 2023

A reply from AC Tang from FB’s Poetry Group…

Here comes the poem with English translation。读Jeff Loh雨后七绝，冒昧神游加州雷雨前后。步其韵。

After reading Jeff’s rain poem, I took the liberty of composing a poem based on the scene and mood following the same rhyming.

夏日朝雨震加州 summer day morning rain shock California
坐看疑是九天漏 sit view suspect nine sky leak
庭院有竹逢甘露 courtyard has bamboo meeting sweet dew
清風無意送閑愁  gentle wind without intent send leisure sorrow

A summer morning rain shakes California
I sit and wonder whether water has escaped heaven
In the courtyard, bamboo leaves finally hold sweet dews
My leisurely sorrow is gone with the fresh wind

His 2nd version on 23 Aug 23

Here is a new take with different twist and I fixed the 平仄 problems that were overlooked in the previous version.

無題

夏有風雷起梦中 summer has wind thunder rise from dream
醒来疑是九天惊 waking up suspect is nine heaven shock
晚鐘聲嫩新竹綠 evening bell sound soften new bamboo green
静夜聽它雨後生 silent night listen it rain after grow

In a summer dream,
wind and thunder gathered

I woke and wondered
whether heaven was in shock.

Then, the sound of evening bell
softened the new bamboos

the quietness of this night,
heard the sound of growth
as the rain became absent.