In the more than seven years that I have known her, my wife has never written a poem. At least, not one that she has shared with me. Today, however, she felt moved to pen the following verses on our relocation to Beijing and send them to me at work. With her blessings, I share them with you. It's not Yeats, but it's heartfelt.

-WM

Beijing Nieve
By Olivia Lee

Come to Beijing my dear he says,
Leave ole Singapore for awhilst.
So cracked open dusty dictionary,
Hopes rekindle 12 years Chinese mandatory.
Garagesale then ran a mile, with much stuff from our packrat pile.

Arrival with twine cats in kimble,
Exit airport cats in limbo.
This what's was not to be! Said I dejectedly,
Sorry ma'am, the rules just changed recently.
Problem then solved 2 days late, with USDs 600 paid.

New smells set cats nases a'twitch,
Moped and shivered they hoped a switch.
One howled to the world across the mirror,
The other quick the quilt slumber under.
Twas much nicer twined moaned, in'r former green home.

As for me I cringe icy sputum,
Whilst gawking the giant meshwork ad'rium.
12 years school and tutors sent me,
Prepared me not for curly "R"s a plenty.
Easy then I found, baijiu brings that special Beijing sound.