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Boston area translator and cultural guru Canaan Morse brings us his latest poem for the Chinese New Year.

Hu's in China

Come and give a round of applause for 庚寅年,
whom we saw coming. We know 虎 he is,
though not what he brings;
besides a new jacket and 鼠s for the baby,
expenses, a newsprinted war
between Muslim and 猪, and Oba马
still blowing on the trumpet of 猴pe
‘til he’s blue.

The Times and Time tell me that this year,
nothing is certain; but I’m not 蛇.
The places we’ve been 兔
are small indication of where we’ll 狗.
Hell, some say that 鸡sus will reappear,
though I don’t think so.
I only know
that I'm not getting any 羊ger, I’ve lost
some of what I was taking a龙
and will lose more soon. So tell me,
is this the year for things that are old—
or merely for that which was once 牛?

http://paper-republic.org/canaanmorse/contest-spring-festival-zodiac-poems/

You can read more of Canaan's writing at his Paper Republic profile: Canaan Morse.