Red Horse and the Spring

The red horse from the east drinks
from the waters of the ten thousand springs
It delights and lingers in the oasis
where the palm fronds hold him in a tight embrace
How remote it seems, the desolate desert dunes
as his tongue is moistened, it sings a new tune
Calm, content, and safe, he ponders how vast
the distance he has ran, almost willing to surrender the past
Yet he has to leave, that he has known
for the waters of the spring, other nomads now own
But for that evening, the very short evening
on the second day of spring
He has found home.

- for quebec, the province of ten thousand springs
from Hong Ma, on the second day of the new year, 2008