by Yuan Changming
Along Dianchi Lake, China’s “sparkling pearl
Of the highland,” I found myself lost in a mile-
Long row of blue gum trees (introduced from
Australia in 1896), each standing tall against
The blue sky, ready to welcome seagulls re-
Turning in thousands to flirt with the season
What a striking contrast! – the trunk looked
Dead, bards peeled off, each branch twisted
As dark as the veins on an aged human arm
But the leaves are green, slender and fleshy
Even more graceful than those of willows
Textured fully with youthful vitality &;
Feminine beauty as if to show how life &;
Death can converge in a single being
Yuan Changming co-edits Poetry Pacific with Allen Yuan. With 16 published collections and 15 Pushcart nominations, Yuan has appeared in Best of the Best Canadian Poetry (2008-17) and 2,207 other literary publications worldwide. A former poetry juror for Canada’s National Magazine Awards, Yuan began to write prose in 2022 and released a cnf collection (Return to Roots) and novel trilogy (Towards) in Feb, 2026.