The Meaning of Hong Kong

Published in ‘Apostrophe’, the literary magazine of the Hong Kong Writers’ Circle

The Meaning of Hong Kong

For us,

who have walked along

the Before with joy,

and trod through the After

with angst,

it's desiderium —

It’s a sampan ride

with a boat-dwelling Tanka;

a pipe smoked

with an old Hakka.

It’s the taste of 臭豆腐*

archaic, tempting,

even if it comes

with the stink.

For you,

who are moving your first steps

on the balance beam,

and climb onto bamboo scaffolding

to see the sky,

it's anemoia.

It’s the song

you've never heard;

the candles

no longer lit;

the books burnt

on bonfires.

It's the echo

without the cave.

*cau3 dau6 fu6: fermented bean curd, also known as ‘smelly tofu’.