GAS Featured Poet: Yuan Changming

 

Yuan Changming edits Poetry Pacific with Allen Yuan in Vancouver. Credits include 12 Pushcart nominations for poetry and 2 for fiction besides appearances in Best of the Best Canadian Poetry (2008-17), BestNewPoemsOnline and 2109 other publications across 51 countries. A  poetry judge for Canada's 44th National Magazine Awards, Yuan began writing and publishing fiction in 2022.

The Counting of My Remaining Days

Even if from January to December

I have only twelve days to live, even

If from Monday to Sunday I have

Only seven days to function, or even

If from Spring to Winter I have only

Four days to breathe, my heart will

Keep pumping blood to every vessel 

To nourish every cell at my synapses

So I can feel you for the last three

Days: yesterday, today, and tomorrow

Mayuhe Revisited: a 50-Word Romance

Behind the shadow 

Of this tall pine

I left all my dreams

About your face & 

Smiles for a bright 

Future (with a rosier 

Romance) ahead, but

Only to return here

Five decades later

To join you in body 

As in spirit, from 

The opposite sides

Of this wild world

 "Author's note: These two poems are inspired by and devoted to Helena Qi Hong (祁红)."