Ginkgo fans of gold drift, a lean west wind chills. Sunlight flickers through the treetops, evening comes along. Homebound folk tighten coats, quicken steps, shadows hurry past.
Hot dishes tempt empty stomachs, aroma fills the room. Family gathers round the table, chewing and laughter blend; warm meals, modest living shared, with cozy pleasure.
The clear, still night beneath a bright moon, tea fragrance by the railing. Children drift into sweet slumber, eyes and brows smile gently. Couples gaze in silent accord, together guarding the new dawn.
Morning light streams through the window, neighbors stir awake. Washing, dressing, early breakfast, the day begins in earnest. Steps carry dreams into the world, another day unfolds.
Since when had the world lost its pure white? People’s outlines blurred at the edges, lines twisted from straight to bent, neon lights overlapped into double images, and the mortal world lay shrouded in yellow sands.
Over time, it became habitual, colored notions seeped into consciousness. Sand in the eyes, narratives veil what we see and hear， layer upon layer, truth was veiled from sight.
Clouds drift across the vast sky, the evening glow persists, the sun sets in the west, and dusk returns again. Mountains gray with age, trees grown old, flowers drifting on flowing water, stars dance slowly, the sun and moon revolve. True and false, real and unreal, yet human life remains rich and full of color.
In this distorted post-truth world, facts are rewritten again and again, becoming the new normal.
As long as you are willing to swap in the lens of conscience, the world returns to pristine white—unchanged by how we see it.
Notes
Recently, I had cataract surgery. The world before my eyes became brilliantly clear—contours, lines, numbers, and lights all sharp, with no double images; before, the world seemed shrouded in yellow sand.
“Neon lights” symbolize the glittering, decadent urban life, also echoing “the mortal world.”
The second stanza reflects the pre-surgery vision, symbolizing how truths and falsehoods in the world can obscure reality.
The third stanza emphasizes that nature and human life remain vibrant and colorful; even if people distort reality, the true nature persists.
The final stanza uses the post-surgery restored vision of pure white as a metaphor: by “replacing with a lens of conscience,” one can return to perceiving the immutable, pristine true nature, unaffected by truths or falsehoods.
A blink, a flicker of vision— eyes adjusting; suddenly, the world turns snow-bright and clear. Contours, lines, numbers, like delicate carvings, all enter the eye.
The view opens, renewed and lucid. For a moment— fruits and blossoms stir in a gentle breeze, birds busily nest in the trees, insects and butterflies among the flowers— lifting a new awareness.
A miracle of modern medicine; a brief procedure, half an hour of light sleep, an artificial lens set in place— in an instant, the heart lightly brushes the world. Like a newborn child, peering into life’s mystery.
As if in another lifetime, unaware— former sight was veiled by a pale yellow curtain, blurring images, light and shadow merging into double vision. So it is with consciousness, until clarity returns.
Notes:
Light Returns The light has always been there; it was merely obscured. Now it “returns to its proper place.”
复视 = Double Vision The word “复视” carries three layers of meaning in the poem:
Consciousness level: old experiences overlapping with reality; habits coexisting with truth; thinking one sees clearly, when in fact perception is still unclear
The sun peeping through the clouds, the vast, azure skies, the boundless earth.
Majestic seas and mountains, resplendent rivers and lakes, mysterious forests and hidden valleys.
Brocade of rainbows, mesmerising evening glow, longing for the setting sun
You grant me a lifetime of seeing, knowing, and insight.
life-giving light， the nourishing rain, growth and decay, the turning of day and night, the cycle of seasons.
The movements of sun, moon, and stars, the life of all things in nature, the myriad forms of the universe, the encounters and destinies of life, the heart’s whispers and dreams in the night sky.
Without you, I cannot see——
The vast heavens, the sun’s brilliance and moon’s gentle glow, the everchanging, ever-shifting clouds and winds, flowers poised to bloom, birds soaring free, the love of family, the warmth of life.
My world would be—— pitch-dark, dim and shadowed, heavy with stillness.
Now, you have given all, your last threads spent, your tears run dry, it is time for rest and renewal.
Fortunately, a new lens is all that is needed, for the world to shine through once more, and you will continue to be with me for the rest of my life——
my eyes.
Literary Note:
Drawing on Tang dynasty poet Li Shangyin’s lines, “The spring silkworm spins silk until death; the candle burns to ash before its tears run dry,” this evokes the gradual exhaustion of countless threads, the draining of inner strength, a lifetime of seeing, long years of labor, quiet dedication, until the calling is fulfilled, and at last comes the moment of rest and renewal.
Mountains and waters upon mountains and waters, easy, free-spirited, at leisure, drifting in effortless ease.
The heart mirrors sun and moon, clouds thin, winds gentle; as poetic feeling flows freely, the spirit roams the cosmos.
Buoyant in the mortal world, a boat passes lightly; where peaks turn and rivers bend, a new world quietly unfolds.
With grace, connections arise, relax, letting the path of truth show. As the tide of thought settles, everything is complete and clear.
Spiraling galaxies, years flowing by; In a flicker of sudden insight, permanence and stillness.
Beginnings and endings, comings and goings, clear, plain, and quietly serene.
Notes:
1. Inspiration
Yesterday a friend messaged me, mentioning his fondness for 李清照‘s《声慢慢》. Later, I watched the video by “致远书香” on 《声慢慢》, and a wave of poetic feeling stirred within me, inspiring this short poem.
2. Graceful in the Mortal World
“Graceful in the mortal world” — a metaphor for moving lightly through worldly life, letting go, passing gently, and perceiving new realms of insight. To release, to ease, to flow delicately — this is how one senses and realizes a higher state of being.
3. Inner completeness and clarity
“盈盈清清” evokes a sense of inner fullness, completeness, and clear purity.
4 Cosmic Flow and Sudden Insight
Spiraling galaxies, flowing years, a flicker of sudden insight, permanence and stillness — crossing time and space, experiencing the momentary flash of awakening that connects with eternity, a sense of lasting calm and quiet.
Ginkgo fans the wind, a thousand branches dance; A sudden breeze, lifts golden wings in flutter, brushing the earth like a painted scroll— autumn deepens.
Returning in scarlet dreams to the maple-filled forest; when intoxication fades, crimson leaves quiver in the eye’s reflections, drunken on the verses— recalling lingering red.
Wild geese fly south, gazing homeward; half the sky drifts with clouds, yet clouds cannot still the heart’s restless thoughts, day and night the path back home— a heart longs to return.
Youth and beauty bid farewell to autumn as winter nears; after the wind has stilled, fallen leaves speak no word of coming or going, old dreams drift with the wind, even as they return in echoes.
Notes:
1｜First Section｜Visual Beauty: Autumn Unfolding
“Fans the wind”: The ginkgo leaves resemble small fans. The personification is natural, capturing both form and the rhythm of the wind.
“A thousand branches dance / golden wings flutter”: Full of motion, the imagery is brilliant yet restrained, preserving the crisp clarity of autumn.
“brushing the earth like a painted scroll”: The landing point is exquisite, grounding the ephemeral beauty of the sky onto the earth.
This section is not merely observing autumn, but autumn actively unfolding itself.
2｜Second Section｜Dream and Intoxication: From Scene to Heart
“Returning in scarlet dreams”: In the dream, one looks back and recalls the autumn colours ie beauty of the past.
“as intoxication fades, crimson leaves quiver in the eye’s reflections: Though awake, the residue of intoxication remains; the old dream persists, and the colors of the maple forest are still mirrored in the eyes.
This section completes the transition from external beauty → internal memory.
3｜Third Section｜Homesickness: The Weight of Emotion
Wild geese: Southbound migratory birds, in autumn season, symbolizing both homesickness and the journey home.
“yet clouds cannot still the heart’s restless thoughts, day and night”: Even half a sky of drifting clouds cannot shield the heart from the ceaseless, tangled thoughts of homesickness.
This section extends the “old dream” from personal memory to a shared human emotional experience.
4｜Fourth Section｜Letting Go and Returning
“Blossoms of the past” (芳菲): Refers to moments of past flourishing—whether in emotion, life, or worldly prosperity.
“Not speaking of coming or going”: This is not ignorance of what comes or goes, but non-attachment; one sees events unfold without questioning or clinging to outcomes.
“even as they return in echoes” (几回重): This does not deny the recurrence of emotion, but acknowledges it—memories return, old dreams revisit; neither resisting nor indulging, this reflects a wisdom attuned to the realities of life.
In this section, there is no moralizing, no conclusion, only an attitude: See, accept, move with the wind, and follow fate with ease.
The moon waxes and wanes, and yet it speaks, the years pass and return, silently.
The moon rises and sets again, clear skies, then clouds obscure, its brilliance, in time, meets eclipse, time morphs into flowing years.
The vast skies stand eternal, the heart glows with the bright moon. United, we forge a flourishing age, year after year, we safeguard the luminous moon.
The tide rises and falls, indifferent, the flowers bloom and wither, yet full of feeling.
The tide swells and then subsides, it surges forth, and then retreats. Waves roll in endless layers, until the tide rests, lapping the shore.
The tide comes, flooding my thoughts, the tide goes, leaving no trace. Waves sift the sand again and again, each generation rises anew.
Note 1: After reading the Song dynasty poetess 李清照的《残花》- Li Qingzhao’s “Fallen Flowers” —
“Flowers bloom, flowers fall, flowers have no regrets; Fate comes, fate goes, fate flows like water.”
Inspired, I wrote a little poem.
Note 2: 李清照 (March 13, 1084 – 1155), styled易安居士, the cultured lay scholar of Yi’an（literary pseudonym that reflects refined scholarship, spiritual cultivation, and genteel detachment), was from Qizhou, Zhangqiu (northwest of present-day Zhangqiu, Jinan, Shandong), and lived in Jinan. A Song dynasty poetess and representative of the 婉约派 (delicate and restrained style), she is celebrated as “the greatest talented woman of all time.”
Note 3:
“屡屡” → repeatedly, over and over
“浪淘沙” → waves sift the sand; a natural force that screens and cleanses
Imagery: The tides surge continuously, washing and purifying everything in their path.
Metaphor: The passage of time, the cycles of history, and the trials and choices of life — like a constant reshuffling of cards, starting each time with a fresh new deck.
“新人立” → new generations rise, taking their place after the previous ones
Imagery: After being sifted and tested, new forces stand firm and unshakable.
Metaphor: The succession and renewal of history and human life.
Fireworks vanish in a flash, blossoms soon drift away. Youth dissipates like falling flowers. flowing waters never meet again.
Mindful diet, careful steps, sickness wanes, longevity grows. Life cherishes richness of color, not the mere lengthening of years.
Clarity of heart, cultivating grace; mellow emotions, few desires. An orchid heart, still as a quiet pool; a lucid mind, timeless as mountains and rivers.
Deep, restful sleep, healing quietly unfolds. Zhuang Zi dreams he is a butterfly; Sweet dreams linger, dawn comes unnoticed.
Wandering the ten directions, one mind eases into emptiness. Past and present arise from here; from the world’s edge, we return to this moment.
Living simply, at ease with fate, finding joy in the ordinary. Kindred souls share long intoxication; knees drawn close, we wake to heart-to-heart talk.
Warm meals, simple comforts; Care in every word and gesture. After all, what is love— Between loving and being loved.
Note 1: In the morning, a friend shared a health-and-wellness post in their social media feed about “the true luxuries in life.”After seeing it, I wrote this little poem. 🙏😃
Note 2:
“兰心如止水”
兰 (lán) → orchid, a flower long associated in Chinese culture with purity, grace, elegance, and noble character
心 (xīn) → heart, mind, or inner spirit
So 兰心 literally = “orchid heart,”metaphorically.
Figurative / poetic meaning – refined, gentle, and virtuous inner nature. Elegance, serenity, and purity of character. Often used in classical poetry to describe someone’s spiritual or moral beauty rather than physical beauty.
“Zhuang Zhou dreams the butterfly”
From 《庄子·齐物论》: “Zhuang Zhou dreamed he was a butterfly.”
It symbolizes the blurring of reality and illusion, the inseparability of self and world, and represents dreams, emptiness, and spiritual freedom.
“Sweet dreams linger, dawn comes unnoticed.”
Adapted from the 五言绝句《春晓》 by the Tang poet 孟浩然 -“春眠不觉晓”。
The two words “dream fragrance” (梦香) evoke sensory pleasure, comfort, and immersion; the idea is sleeping so soundly that one forgets the morning has arrived.
清迈回新加坡机程 return flight from Chiangmai to Singapore 4.1.2026清迈回新加坡机程 return flight from Chiangmai to Singapore 4.1.2026清迈回新加坡机程 return flight from Chiangmai to Singapore 4.1.2026
空的联想
烈日横空， 掷下万顷光环。 金边圈住了云端， 任它飘游浮沉。
云海无际； 银翼穿破云层—— 大气层裹着飞行， 由你焚燃穿刺。
框外片影； 天平线一抹红霞—— 绽放须臾辉煌， 入暮前的献礼。
旧梦偏冷， 夜间灯火争光。 俯瞰亿万有情生态， 在无休止中奔忙。
九尘十方间； 盤踞时空命数—— 我伸手触摸天际， 身欲踏云而去。
c.h.e.f andy
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published on 5.1.2026
空的联想 Reflections on Emptiness
Blazing sun spans the sky, casting down ten thousand leagues of light. Golden halos circle the clouds, letting them drift and float at will.
Endless seas of clouds; silver wings pierce through the layers— the atmosphere cradles the flight, as fire and thrust blaze it through.
Passing sights beyond the frame; a dash of crimson paints the evening horizon— moments of glory, a fleeting gift as dusk enters.
Past dreams grow cold. night lights vie for brilliance. Below, countless lives unfold, caught in ceaseless motion.
Across ninefold worlds and ten directions; where time, space and fate entwine — I reach to touch the sky’s edge, my body yearning to step onto the clouds.
清迈尼曼一号广场 One Nimman, Chiangmai 31.12.2025清迈尼曼一号广场 One Nimman, Chiangmai 31.12.2025
倒数迎新岁
夜空绽放花千数, 须臾光辉， 盈盈而降。
万花筒里昙花现， 彩色斑斓， 瞬息变幻。
炮竹声中洒星雨， 烟花叠叠， 层出不穷。
广场人群黑压压， 啸声不歇， 欢迎新岁。
青春笑声飘扬， 芳华璀璨盛溢。 倒数的心跳， 新岁的憧憬。 台上台下呼应， 光与声相互点燃。
c.h.e.f Andy
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published on 1.1.2026
倒数迎新岁 Countdown to the New Year
Fireworks bloom by the thousands in the night sky, brief flashes of brilliance, descending in shimmering showers.
In a kaleidoscope, ephemera unfold, a riot of colors, changing in the blink of an eye.
Crackling firecrackers cast down star-showers, bursts upon bursts of fireworks, cascading without end.
The square is packed with heaving crowds, cheers never ceasing, greeting the coming year.
Youthful laughter soars, brimming with the brilliance of youth. Hearts thumping in countdown, dreams rising for the year to come. Stage and crowd in lively resonance, light and sound igniting one another.
c.h.e.f 