The Whispering Stranger Seated Next to Carla on The Plane
(… Part 2 of 2)
- by Frank Yue
(... Continued from Part 1)
I leaned towards her and whispered in her ear:
If you want to hear, me you'll have to move near.
(I ne'er dreamt I would whisper in a woman's ear
On the same plane in the presence of my wife dear!)
She obliged and ignored her personal space -
My lips were a couple of inches from her face.
"What are those hand movements you were doing? "
They are entirely two different things -
Martial arts, and health-enhancing technique.
For yourself, choose one for me to ‘teach':
Some self-defence tricks to ease your mind night and day,
Or, some effective health-care maintenance ways.
With her questions, she fired away;
There couldn't be a more eager student these days.
I answered them best as I could;
Like to learn some health-enhancing exercise, she would.
In her late twenties, she is a smart young lady.
In her mind, there was still one ‘curiosity'.
"Now, why are you so keen to teach all this to me? "
I'd promised to share these good stuffs to all who ask me.
Why are you so interested in Chinese medicine?
"My Mom once suffered from a certain ailment;
The doctors couldn't help her but after treatment
By acupuncture her condition saw some improvement."
Before we started, were you reading a novel in Spanish?
"Right, I was. And I speak Spanish, French and English.
I come from Brazil, am visiting friends in Montreal.
My name is Carla. What's yours? "
I pointed to the name appearing in my article.
She gave me a funny face and let out a chuckle.
No, I am not kidding, Carla.
I am "him", the "poet-author".
I could see some doubts in her eyes.
I am not flirting with you; why should I lie?
I produced my boarding-pass stub with THE name.
Then, Carla's attitude was not quite the same.
I showed Carla "The Ten Skilful Hands" forms just once;
She repeated the 10 movements flawlessly after I'd done!
And in the correct order, too,
In tune with the ‘qi flow' in me and you.
(Ah! I was quite happy: I had chosen well -)
Teach your parents and friends for better health.
As a responsible "tutor" under such conditions,
I wrote -in English -the brief instructions
On the inside of a cut-open blank envelope,
While Carla was napping during the session-interlude.
She opened her eyes as her destination came "on-line";
I handed the note to her and bade her Good-bye.
Carla said "Adios! " and got off the plane;
Probably, I would never see her again.
Go, spread the good stuffs around you -
Truth is Beauty, and Beauty, Truth.
Let's all make this place a better World with Love,
The gentle rain of Compassion from Above.
(The End)
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem