DAILY PHOTO: Murals Around West Lake [Hồ Tây], Hanoi

A lotus blossom themed mural on a building on the east side of West Lake (Hồ Tây) in Hanoi, Vietnam.
A cherry blossom mural on a wall near Hồ Tây (West Lake) in Hanoi, Vietnam.
A mural of a calligrapher on a wall near the southeastern tip of West Lake (Hồ Tây) in Hanoi, Vietnam.

“Rain on Lotus” by Yang Wanli [w/ Audio]

Asleep on a leaf beneath lotus blooms,
Their fragrance floats across the misty lake.
Sudden rain - taps upon the canopy;
Its sound snaps me from sleep to wide awake!

The lotus is beaded with rain droplets --
Like pearls, drops roll together and apart;
The clear blobs coalesce like mercury,
Dripping to the river... back to their start.

On Mud & Lotus [Free Verse]

The saying goes: 
“No mud - no lotus!”

But I can’t help but notice
That the flower is long-stemmed,
Raising it high above the mud.

A tropical newbie,
I used to confuse
Lotuses & Water Lilies.
Then I learned the simplest
Way to distinguish the flowers
(From a distance)
Is that Lily pads
Rest on the water,
While Lotus leafs
Also try to rise
above the muddy water.

I can’t help but wonder whether
Our admiration has made the
Lotus too good for its mud?

Open Lotus [Haiku]

a lotus opens;
its yellow pod shining
back at the sun.

“Treading on Grass” by He Zhu [w/ Audio]

On winding pool with willows dim,
At narrow strait the lovebirds swim.
Green duckweeds float,
Barring the lotus-picking boat.
Nor butterflies nor bees
Love fragrance from the withered trees.
When her red petals fall apart,
The lotus bloom 's bitter at heart.

The setting sun greets rising tide,
The floating clouds bring rain.
The swaying lotus seems to confide,
Her sorrow to the poet in vain.

Then she would not be wed to vernal breeze.
What could she do now autumn drives away wild geese?

Translation: Xu Yuanchong [translator]. 2021. Deep, Deep the Courtyard. [庭院深深.] Cite Publishing: Kuala Lumpur, p.226.

Lotus Patch [Haiku]

a lotus patch
at the lake’s far end,
sneaking required.

Lotus [Haiku]

the lotus stands
boldly in pink & yellow;
one petal fallen

Dragonfly on Lotus [Haiku]

a dragonfly lands
on a lotus seed head
without making sway

Lily Pond [Haiku]

a lily blossom
hovers like a dragonfly
over a pad quilt

Stone Lotus [Tanka]

the stone lotus
carved in the temple wall
will outlast
lovers and real lotuses -
such a clumsy copy