‘Passing of the Seasons’ and Other Poetry by Wandi Zhu

Passing of the Seasons

When snow has melted, chill has gone, and winter turns to spring,
The tender buds grow on the branches where the robins sing.
The earth once brown is green again, blessed by the April rain,
And flowers shy peek out the ground to meet the sun again.

Then summer comes and days are warm and sun is in the sky,
The doe brings out her fawn to play, the nestlings learn to fly.
And berries sweet on bushes grow and trees are lush and green,
And when night falls the sky is clear and shining stars are seen.

Soon autumn comes and geese fly south, the leaves turn red and gold,
The days turn short, the nights turn long, the gentle breeze turns cold.
The apples droop the laden boughs and harvest comes around,
The stalks of golden corn are sweet, the pumpkins full and round.

Then winter comes back once again, to sleep the black bears go,
The barren branches blanketed by thick and frosty snow.
The earth asleep and dreaming of when deer in meadows run,
And days that’ll soon come ‘round again brought by the spring and sun.

Heart of the Forest

Tales speak of kingdoms far away,
And of the lands where fairies play,
Where dragons fought the mighty kings,
Lands where the fair-haired maidens sing.
I too know of a mystic realm,
Amongst the forest pines and elms,
Where few have ever seen or heard,
Yet known to every beast and bird.
Like how has every man a heart,
Which life to one does it impart
The forest has a heart as well,
And it’s this realm to you I tell.
It’s not a kingdom vast and grand,
Or far and wide, a magic land,
But humble haven safe and sound,
Small clearing in the forest found.
Untouched by winter frost or cold,
A realm forever green and gold,
The path there only shown to those,
Whose love for nature purely shows.
Here beasts and birds are friends not foe,
The silver wolf and wide-eyed doe,
And forest secrets softly sung,
By gentle brook in ancient tongue.
And flower fragrance fills the air,
Within this realm so sweet and fair,
This realm of happy harmony,
Where dearly my heart yearns to be.

Wandi Zhu is a high school student at Fei Tian Academy of the Arts, in New York.