in the Sun Yat Sen Garden

pine, bamboo and fat orange carp
lazing in the old pond

twisted stones, moss-tufted, pocked,
superannuated, dance deformed like
Daoist saints in flight

Chinese pavilion with hipped roofs
arches tangle into the air like tentacles
beside glass highrises, like Shanghai

but this being Vancouver, a sudden vision
a sign -- "Everything is going to be alright"
in block capitals on downtown Eastside
brick abandoned warehouse

in the Silk Road Gift Shop
a pushy Chinese lady wants to sell me
flying horses -- "special jade from Himalayas!"
"half-off for Thanksgiving!"