Poem: Happy Chinese New Year!

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It's rather odd...

My ancestors have come and gone
generations separate us
and yet...

I still feel them
every time I take up my brush
and trace every character stroke.

And every time
I put my hands around
a bowl of steaming egg drop soup.

When I go through language lessons
wrapping my head around
measure words and many dialects.

I try to pick up noodles
with the plain wooden chopsticks
with very little grace.

Today starts a new year
The Year of the Wood Snake
"Gõngxĩ făcái. Happy New Year."

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