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LITERARY NOOK
Flame Tree Flowers are Falling
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Posted on Jul 26 2019
“I seem to hear them cry, “We will not leave our trees.”
—from Falling Leaves, a poem by Kong Shao-an, (577 – ?), a 7th century A.D. Chinese Tang Dynasty poet
Along the CNMI’s streets and every coral road
are seen multitudes of bright and beautiful bowers
as our prized trunkon atbot flame trees explode
with thousands and thousands of flame tree flowers.
In Southeastern skies a tropical depression cowers
perhaps the beginnings of a destructive typhoon
its winds and rains containing damaging powers
we know that it will be coming up our way soon.
Beaches and buildings it scours, vegetation it devours
strong winds howl driving down rains which pound
it does its serious damage in a matter of a few hours
flame tree blossoms by the millions cover the ground.
Next year we’ll see our green and orange tree towers
paint the sky dropping flame tree blossom showers.
Tinian Trade Wind Tales
The trade winds blow, coconut trees sway
back on island, I’ve been too long away
where are all the chungé birds today?
the trade winds rise, chungé in pairs fly
plumeria fragrance lingers in the air
storm clouds threaten in the eastern sky
I can’t forget students for whom I still care
a flight to Saipan, it won’t take too loné
the sea is calm, few waves cresting white
I remember an old ‘Kunados Tinian’ song
shopping today, San Jose Fiesta tomorrow night
roast pig, cow feet soup, bifstek, and red rice
San Isidro Fiesta will be here before too long
having a drink, seeing old friends will be nice.
15 Degrees N Latitude Philippine Sea
I drive south on Tinian along the Pacific ocean
from high cliffs facing it on the southeastern side
its water rolls back and forth in rhythmic motion
Tinian welcomes the waters with a bay open wide.
On the eastern fringes of the Philippine Sea
Tinian has World War II monuments to the US
Korea and Japan in memory and for our liberty
and Atomic Bomb Pits where we say God Bless.
Frequent hot sun by day cool trade winds at night
off the coast the Mariana Trench way down deep
the Milky Way galaxy and Fishhook stars bright
fresh oxygen from the East puts you right to sleep.
How happy I am in my old age to be at this sight
I write this sonnet quickly and with true delight.
