Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Poetry 2017 | Page 176

The New Tales of Old Shanghai
St Paul's Co-educational College, Chung, Mung Tim - 15
purple
this is not arrogance
purple gowns in flawless silk
purple hearts wrapped in jewels
it’s a royal pride
gold
nightclubs on mahjong tables
golden bracelets adding weight
golden teeth—what otherwise?
sprinkling sparkles to lifeless words
red
passionate priests and missionaries with
red cotton ribbons and
red-covered books
dimming every other color
grey
road smoke hungry dead bodies
grey gravel tainted by mist
grey hats slack on empty heads
blurring extra distinct souls
black
darkest of the dark era
beams light to
a new era
red
celebration cheers and firecracker
red lanterns everywhere shimmer
red roes fresh on xiao long baos
more chopsticks from the dishwasher
green
trees speaking particles of life
green leaves on people’s heads
green lawns under children’s heads
it’s a picnic at Ren Min Park
silver
piercing buildings countless heights
silver oriental pearl with pink delights
silver stone lions by the foundation stood
drinking water of wills of steel
blue
sailing boats and ferries
planes and trains
blue air
blue water
the Bund is no place for lies or photoshop
welcome to
shanghai