Friday, May 15, 2009

Taiwan Reincarnated II

Country Visit

Yesterday, I went to Qiao Zhou
To see the country with my own eyes.
My future awaited the past—
Rice paddies, Taiwanese, and Aborigines.
Delivered by the fast-line train,
I pressed my face to the window and watched
Green banana leaves smear by,
“How beautiful!” I thought.
Bananas for ice cream sundaes and hot bread,
Curving yellow smiles of silliness
Tempting me to enjoy
A banana world in Qiao Zhou.
A banana country.
I stared out the window and
Lin Mei stared at me.
“Those aren’t banana trees,”
She said.