50 years of becoming

we are celebrating
50 years of Cora
in this turning
time

thanks to the gods of
health, wealth &
felicity

thanks to her parents,
& siblings &
ancestors

thanks to
china

thanks to
hong kong

thanks to the calendar
that reserved the day
for us to meet

& the angels who
bound our
hearts

she’s known as lok sum––
the happy heart––
brilliant, inventive,
beautiful, charismatic,
perfectly stubborn
& nurturing
as spring

she likes to
eat, sleep & play

she is 50
we are 114

confucius & plato
raise a glass––
socrates sings
happy birthday

we set out
11 years ago
to cross eternity
hand-in-hand––
we’ve been
cuddling in the ever-more
ever since

like the celestial seasons
we breathe
the give & take
of loving

we exist
(all of us)
to love
each other

let’s toast
half-a-century
in everland––
of a happy heart skipping
along in this world
with a glowing soul &
a radiant
smile

yin of the moon
resplendent yang of the sun
roaring zen tiger burning
bright