2 Poems

On Leaving Dalian, China II

Passport stamped with Hanja, barely readable red ink no less,      (ten minutes trying to decide where Ireland is though!)    and a nosey inquisition through the other stamps...     boarding finally complete, the ferry coughs, slips away from the wharf       spluttering diesel fumes, dense blackness billowing from the stacks   surprisingly, there are fish swimming in the harbour’s water        the boat leaves the breakwaters behind   the photographer’s vision quickly clouded  the sickly yellow inpenetrability of Dalian’s smog        enshrouding buildings, city, ferryboat,               all heading toward invisibility, all in a Yellow sea. The National Flower of Romania this flower blooms only after dusk at night, at night, it blooms, at night,       I miss sulphur lights – stars offer no safety – no matter their numbers    nor roses the colour of heartbeats    more like purple violets blooming just under her skin.

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