THE WORLD

the world is getting empty and cold.

there is room for the mind

and then there is snow.

there is a thunderstorm outside

and beijing is white;

and they are actually heating the city in early november,

and the snow stays on

just to make sure.

the willows still had all their leaves

and so they broke down, and many other trees.

it is a wonderful winter day

and people are nice to foreign babies.

one week ago

we went to the park round the earth altar

and maia played with the ginkgo leaves

and bigger ones in many colours.

we talked about falls

of dynasties and decay.

and not feeling safe.

and proving yourself, and then we went home

and ate xiaolongbao on the way through the maze

of little lanes and lots of construction.

the magpies liked it among the leaves,

i guess they'll be fine

throughout the winter for a while.

it felt like snow

and smelled like in winter when i was a child in the holidays in a

place in the alps

although it was rain

just a few days ago that i felt on the roof after it fell after a month

or less of dryness, the year was wet.

we wish you all a merry winter

and may we be happy together

again some day soon.

the sun is out; we went with maia

to see the roses in the snow

and sunday service, and listen to music

and pizza and salad and then dozing off

on the bicycle and also upstairs,

but not quite enough as it always happens although at last she is

quiet now.

we bought her shoes which are warm and comfy in a little store

along the way,

after leading her out on the bike in her sandals and a skiing suit.

her butt is healing, her cheeks have spots,

she has ten teeth, the big one likes her,

the older sister who looks like four,

is one and a half other children's size

and sounds like her father. maia, said she, maia,

as often as mama or papa when we had staid for a while.

i should be working

to finish a book and start on another and drink some tea.

2003