Chinese New Year, in China

It's not the same here
no lawn chairs scattered on a big field
Boom Boom
No roped off section for the professionals
to demonstrate their expertise
Boom
No cotton candy to melt in your mouth
No hot dogs

Everyone carries huge bags
filled with explosives
while hurrying to favorite places
between buildings
on the beach
in the courtyard
even on balconies

No bands
No melodies
Just the staccato rhythm
Boom Boom Boom
all day
all night
all day again

Deafening booms
brilliant lights
Boom
the old year exploding
into the new year
a better year
dancing lightly toward us

New Year's Eve, 2004 Midnight

My mother did not see the ball drop
this year.

She did not hear me whisper
Happy New Year.

I'm here with her,
but there's no joy.
No renewal
no wishes
no promises
no kisses.

One of us is dying
and one of us will live,
but
both of us are changing.

One life stopping
no time left for living.
One life continuing
no strength left for fighting.

Are we any different?

Were we ever.