I was about to hang the dragon decor by the door
when I noticed the old tiger decor was left hanging for two years
apologies to the rabbit who’s hopping home now after a year
but the past two years do seem like a haze
how my tiger year got swept by a spell
stirred by the jade and blood spirits
conjuring a tiger economy
written in patched up scrolls
yet not long did this enchantment last
as tiger disappeared like a myth
and spices became priced like gold
then rabbit came last year
with mischief, it made prices hopped
and wandered off when its home was washed in flood
rabbit found the jade spirit
unburrowed its secret treasure
and gasp, the stench turned jade into bile
and broke the spell that binds
bile and blood now brewing a hellfest
now I’m still standing here by the door
like the rest of the folks wondering
do signs or animal spirits tell us good or bad fortunes
our cultures make them remain in our dreams and stories
as I have resolutions to keep
I hang the dragon on a tassel
pinned on wood
hoping it’ll hang around for a year.
(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Tyrone A. Velez is a freelance journalist and writer.
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