Notes of a Desolate Libra

A while back, I started writing poems for some of my friends. I've never had the $ for expensive presents and frankly... they're a bore. So! I can create things with a talent uniquely mine, with a view deeply personal, to express my feelings for my friends. Below, with the exception of Lan (who's from BJ but might as well be from TW), are the poems that I wrote for some of my beloved TW girls and also their meanings (according to me, of course). Most of these represent what those girls seem/mean to me. The names of the girls are worked in as part of their own poem.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="400" caption="Front: Sherry, me, Abby / back: Sandra, Shirley"]

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Shirley
麗影漫游都市內
繁華易使人夢醉
唯是心堅意不改
鈴音留得獨清脆

Shirley moved here alone and went to school and has been on her own until now (that she's found her hubby). So the first line describes a beautiful girl roaming the city streets alone. Second line describes how the decadence in the cities can easily lead one to become lost in its traps of luxury. But she maintains her goal and ideals and in the end, she is the one who retains her clear voice and mind.

Abby
雅素大體儀態千
情性相合友誼添
萍聚一刻雖無定
無礙相交心互牽

First line describes Abby's confident and mature demeanor. The last three lines describes how our friendship grew out of matching personalities and that even though we do not see each other very often, the growth of our friendship is not affected.

Sandra
芝顔亮睛
蘭質慧心
妙語嫣然
巧手裁菁

青青子衿
悠悠我心*
他日再遇
笑談當今

The first four lines describe Sandra's gentle features, good heart, intelligence and her talent with creative crafts. The second stanza describes how I miss her and wish I was able to spend more time with her, and that when we meet again, we would be able to laugh and have a good chat.

Sherry
柳腰款款身材裕
心胸坦蕩比朝旭
杏靨綻放留樂紋
笑聲朗朗驅愁鬱

Sherry's a wonderful person to have around because she is never cheap with her positivity. She will let it loose on you until you get swept up by it, like how she always tries to keep herself. Aside from the first line, which upon the first meeting will unavoidably be the part most ingrained in your mind (look, she has a good figure), most of this poem is dedicated to how she's such a bright and honest presence that brings everyone around her much happiness.

Lan
山高天遠浴心清
風凜吹皺水粼粼
林木娉婷人獨行
嵐煙雲岫不擾徑

Lan's a naturally very poetic and occasionally ethereal person. When writing this poem, somehow memories of our adventures in El Yunque  just came to me... of the time when were in the midst of the fog, finding our way... so, unlike the others, this poem mainly describes the images I have of her in the rain forest, as well as how her heart is high and mundane troubles will not hinder or make her lose her way.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="風雨同路 (w/ Lan)"]

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It's always nice when my friends like the poems or stories written for/about them. I mean, we're all self-absorbed people. Who doesn't want other people to think good thoughts about them? All of these ladies deserve some good old pampering and genuine flattery (^^). For me, the joy of being able to tell my friends how special they are, and being able to use my own abilities (that which is uniquely mine) to create something for them that they can enjoy and appreciate, that alone is reward enough for me.

*Yes, I did steal this from 詩經 (the Book of Poetry)

It was Sandra's (fellow Libra) last day in NYC so we all went out to Biny and had their $18 4 course prix-fixe special. It was supposed to be a party of 4, but then grew to a party of 8 (yay!) and we had a blast. The funniest thing was that of the 8 we had 4 Libras.

And no, Sherry, I do not discriminate against other signs... it just happens that Libras are cooler. ;) And also the reason write these things up is not because I have 美國時間, but that I'm a very expressive person and this feeds my soul. Hehe. Well, no matter what, the moments we created together have become part of our paths and will always remain in our hearts. And perhaps we have gained just a little more happiness.

昨天在離開Biny后自己一個人到了Jen家睡。路上收到朋友短訊，也接到父母的留言，突然有點感觸。所謂幸福，也不過如此了。自己一個人，其實也是可以慢慢品嘗幸福的滋味。

我們任何人也不能企求能把幸福留在身邊一輩子。畢竟，世事變幻無常，今天的幸福或許明天早上便如晨霧般消失無蹤。

幸福的瞬間，就是與你合唱時走音唱錯詞，笑倒沙發上，然後打曡精神繼續唱。

相愛的證據，就是你們平凡卻又深情漫溢的互動，多年的堅持，溫和的浪漫。

美麗的友情，就是能夠一同戳一杯不明物體，皺眉商討究竟吃下去會有什麽後果。

純粹的快樂，就是偷偷把食物丟進好朋友的盤中，一同分享。

靈魂的聲音，隨我們所發出的每一個音符，緩緩送到親愛的她/他耳中。

何其簡單，何其幸福。何其平凡，何其快樂。一刻、便成永恒。

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="平凡的快樂"]

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Last night I had a lovely outing with 4 of my dear friends. Of course, I was (again) the ONLY non-Taiwanese girl present. We first went to Le Souk for an awesome dinner (and Sangria), then went to Apple for more chatting (and drinkies).

Three of us were Libras. The others two were a VERY un-Virgo Virgo plus a Capricorn with Libra for a Moon sign. It's a strange occasion with you have many Libras (or Libra leaning ppl) in the room. Most of us are in some creative industry (we had 2 graphic designers, a translator, and an actor) and we can laugh about almost anything under the sun. It's always a pleasure for ME to talk to Libras in particular because they understand 100% the reasons and motivation behind my actions. Whereas I need to explain to most people WHY I want to wander, the Libra girls just look at me and say "oh, I'm so envious"... yep... it's like looking into multiple mirrors.

The funniest thing I found out for the night was that after much deliberation, everyone concurred that ultimately I'll probably end up with a Pisces (which, unfortunately, is my Moon sign and apparently makes me extremely vulnerable to anything to do with matters of the heart - serious bummer). Of course, mixed in that was everyone telling me that they thought I was a lesbian the first time they met me (%^@#*$& EVERYONE!?). In the end, I decided it was time for me to explore my feminine side (= =+). C'mon, I'm a Libra, I'm BORN with good taste. ^^

Libras also never give in. They are idealists who, even when they don't know exactly what they want, have an ideal that they try to pursue. It's usually not an easy path (for me it's been downright blargh), but somehow we always get up after we've been beaten down... and we gain a new and better perspective. I translated a phrase before that said "those who keep half fantasy and half reality and destined to wander" - well, most people fall into the "think but not do because it's just a fantasy" majority... whereas I fall into the "if you're thinking about it why not just do it" minority because I'm just insane that way.

Three of us are slated to leave NYC by July. One is leaving next week and I am just a sitting time bomb with no set time for detonation. But somehow, in the air that's stained with the negativity of recent days, we looked forward with a positive light. We all appreciate everything that we have and we are grateful for having wonderful friends and being able to enjoy a lovely dinner and evening. That's better than most people these days. But we also want to support each other in our individual struggles. It's not going to be easy for any of us, but somehow... we'll make it through.

總覺得，可以這樣和一群志趣相投，來自不同地方的可愛女生一起，天南地北無所不談，上天還是很眷顧我的。這世上，好的朋友不用多，但是如果能夠得到一份真正的友誼，那是多美麗、多難得的一份機遇啊？許多人都不懂得惜福，認爲自己的所有得到的都是應得的，當有什麽不順的事情發生的時候就怨天尤人，也不會想自己有否盡過努力。我們每一個，雖然不算得上是什麽大人物，完成過什麽驚人功業，但是我們都有一顆善良的心，有著自己的執著與理想，也爲了這些對他人來説可能是渺小的可笑的生活目標努力著。我們心裏，永遠都是充滿了對於一切的愛。何其有幸，世界那麽大，但我能夠遇上你們。親愛的朋友們！雖然我們可能很快就會各自走在不同城市的街道上，或許我們以後沒有機會再這樣大家一起相聚聊天，但是在我的記憶中，總是會留下了你們的倩影，記下了我們的點滴。在未來、在以後，讓我們好好品嘗。再度遇上的時候，無論我們已經經歷有過什麽令我們覺得痛苦傷心失望疲倦的階段，也讓我們像這天一樣快樂、幸福！

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="410" caption="Memories of the Night"]

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曲還

假若你我從沒有錯過
沒有短暫的迷惑
何來有緣無份之說
也不知失去的許多

離去的你 留下了我
如海浪催行中的水波
總找不到該停留的住所

但若有天你想起回頭看我
就會發現我和大家一樣
或許不再停留在原地
但依然是帶著有你的回憶
微笑地 等待著
你曾經的盈盈笑語