December 26,2015 Hangzhou Poem by Raymond Farrell

Yesterday, Christmas Day
My friend Dr. Fang
Insisted on taking me out to dinner
After clinic ended
I understood and appreciated
The kindness behind his gesture
I didn't tell him
How grateful I felt
Being in China
And away from this idiocy
That sweeps across the West
Once a year at Christmas time
I didn't tell him
I don't believe in Christmas
Anymore than the Tooth Fairy
The night we went out into
Was rain drenched and cold
But cheer and happiness
Abounded around the dinner table
But today
The day after Christmas
When I drew aside the drapes
Was a picture perfect day
With a blue sky
I hastely dressed and went outside
To enjoy it
Idleness is not a tune
The Chinese know how to play
Myriads had been up and busy hours already
As evidenced by
All the clothes hanging
On lines around the campus
You could not put another sock
On a line
For fear of breaking it
The clothes lines
On the other side
Of the old iron fence
Sagged and swayed in the breeze
All the low bushes
Had quilts and blankets
Draped on top of them
The site was an explosion of color
And the smell was refreshing
Like a meadow in Spring.