Frozen Lily

 Not sure whether I am an oriental lily yet. No, I do not need to qualify with a yet. 

I am not an oriental lily.

Today winter clawed at my soft pink skin

and threatened to attack my thermostat by gouging any warmth

that might please

a cold body.

It rains

Large golden liquid amber leaves

layer upon layer

flat

soaked littering the pathways around ID City

my home

My two storey window 

in my loft apartment lets me look out across the quadrangle

of trees

weeping under the weight 

of rain

Snow is due on Saturday

but I am not ready

I just got here

I have just come from two winters

and my third will cast me into a 

darkness

of searing cold.

I am not ready for this.

Beijing

peking

MAndarin

I read that little book 

about the duck

in Peking

Ping was the duck's name

That China has gone

The buildings

gone

Hutongs are the remnants

I must find the other CHina.