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Lijiang In Yunnan, China

SPRINGTIME MEMORIES



Mountain sentinels
By ancient town;
Clear waters cascade


Cobblestone streets
Winding pavements;
Trade offerings buzz


Fertile plains
Crystal clear waters;
Shady trees guard


Treasure-hunting stroll...
Through Lijiang Old Town;
Curiosity detours


So many things to see
Pleasant fare tempting;
Buying spree bargains


Artisans at work
Township flings open trade;
Silver metal everywhere


Older than 800 years:
Lijiang Town welcomes journeys,
Far beyond old silk route days


Modern day muse in-transit
Old town atmosphere;
Traced footsteps in awe


Wonder amazes wander
A world heritage city;
Precious ancient Chinese pearl


A gentle spirit strays here,
Preserved antiquity loiters;
Unspoilt living testament


Clear pristine waters gush
High mountain peaks preside;
Beauty frames this township


Spring waters flow non-stop,
Shared community well conduits;
Drinking, bathing, washing


Modern day irony:
Drinking water from taps;
Plastic bottled water


By the winding canals
Smaller streams circle around;
Waterways and arched bridges


Elegant old town greets
Tourists' camera shutter intrusion;
Gentle householders calmly polite


By this ancient arched bridge,
I wonder a thousand times;
So much to see in a short expense


We go around here
In circles winding zigzag;
Catch our breath from trekking


Memory can be short-changed:
I buy a few book souvenirs;
I will reminisce tour days later


Too soon morning turns
High noonday sun shines hot;
Cool breeze smoothes rough edges


Late evening darkness in Lijiang
Old Town in spring courtyard;
Colourful lanterns brighten


Buzz of evening vendors
A thousand offerings call;
Bazaar along the winding streets


Common folks with wares
Struggle to live a life;
Survival instincts ply


As I stroll by
Hear offers for strange stuff;
All manners of touting


I like these gentle people
Trying to make a sale;
Touting for a living


Our tour guide spreads
Good advice on-the-road:
Buy only what you need


Cascading waters flow
Through Ancient Lijiang Town;
Authentic tourist hotspot 


By ancient bridge photo snapshot:
Happy keepsake momento,
To reflect when I get home


Hand-in-hand we strolled
Through winding walkways;
My darling and I enroute


I remember that moment:
Springtime in May --
Lijiang kept fond company


Sensorial avenues
Memory instructs reality;
Journey journal pages


I write to highlight
To my self once more;
My own editorial times


One month back home now
June sprinkles hot and humid here;
How nice Lijiang's cool zephyrs?


Silver bangle from Yunnan
Solid white metal on my wrist;
Roman numerals add up to 78


Unearth my keepsake books
Yunnan in full colour;
Smiles amuse eyes feasting


Glimpses of old China
Surge and surge again;
Fond memories attend


Old weeping willow
Hunched trunk sighing;
Ancient times loiter


Leon Enriquez
22 June 2014
Singapore

Copyright © Leon Enriquez | Year Posted 2014

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Barbara Gorelick Date: 6/22/2014 11:14:00 AM My gosh..you outdid yourself. Many of these would stand alone so well..Save them for upcoming contests...BG Login to Reply Leon Enriquez Date: 6/23/2014 12:52:00 AM Dear Barbara: Thanks for that lovely affirmation. Since I got back home, ever so often my glimpses of time spent in Lijiang would stream across my mind's corridors. So, I decided to write these haikus so that I can vividly remember that old China tryst. Because I seem to forget things and recent happenings so quickly these days. Of all the poetic forms, I feel most free with the haikus or more correctly, the senryu. Thanks once again for your kind comments BG. Leon