Cathy Xinman is a longtime resident of Canada who writes poems in English and Chinese. Below, you can read her English-language poem, “Come, Spring Festival”. Her English-language collection is titled Where You Love Yourself.
Come, Spring Festival
Returning to the Lunar New Year,
It’s like returning to earth.
Returning home, returning to ourselves,
Returning to the people, returning to the unfamiliar,
Returning to memories, returning to change.
As if placing hopes is so important,
As if everyone celebrating the New Year is so important.
The flavour of the New Year fills up time,
Fills it with the joy of Spring,
Filled with couplets,
Filled with lanterns, red paper, ink, and brush.
Returning to the Lunar New Year,
Dried fish and bacon create history,
Carrying the wish of surplus every year,
Dumplings and ricecakes mean progress every year,
Oranges and pomelos symbolize success,
The fondest wish is for harmonious families,
Peanuts and red dates symbolize longevity and health,
Favorite new life and family happiness,
Spring rolls, golden and crispy, wish for wealth and prosperity,
Red envelopes set sail, rejuvenating youth.
As if Spring is filled with magic,
Families unite,
Everyone bids farewell to the old and welcomes the new.
Returning to the flow of time.
Oh, heartless time,
I like how you always point to the future.
May you gently welcome everyone,
Heal every sorrowful soul,
May you grant us happiness,
I will become stronger,
For we will sing in the wind.
Come, Spring
I love you, omnipresent,
Loving you, who pursues peace and hope.
Cathy Xinman’s English-language collection is titled Where You Love Yourself. Learn more about the communities that make up Canada on the Toronto Spark website. Follow the Toronto Spark on Bluesky @torontospark.bsky.social.
