Twas the Night Before Chinese New Year’s Day
Twas the night before Chinese New Year’s Day, and all through the house
We were busy preparing for the Year of the Mouse
The red couplets were hung by the doorway with care
In hopes of a lucky year for all who lived here
We had taken a moment to reflect and pray
As we remembered ancestors at the start of the day
The place had been tidied up just great
So we could start off the new year with a clean slate
We had laid out new clothes and dressed in red
To ensure auspicious times for the days ahead
The red envelopes were all stuffed with plenty of money
To promise a new year filled with prosperity
We had cooked up a feast for the year’s most important meal
Which we enjoyed among company with much gusto and zeal
On our comfiest couch did Jun and I stay
As the grand Spring Festival Gala on TV did play
At midnight, across China there arose such a clatter
But no need to spring up to see what was the matter
After all this was one of those holiday “perks”
Because people love to welcome the year with fireworks
But since Jun and I live in Beijing, where they are banned,
Surrounding us was a relatively quiet and serene land.
That was just fine, given our exhaustion was deep
And we desperately wanted a little good sleep.
And as we settled into bed, with the new year now in sight,
We said, “Happy Chinese New Year to all – and to all a good night!”
Happy Year of the Rat to you and yours, Jocelyn. There is a pretty nasty pulmonary bug called 2019nCOV floating around that has already sickened hundreds and killed 17 in the Wuhan area. Be safe and be careful…
Thank you Blue Sky Country! We will be sure to stay safe and careful.
Seven cities are now in lockdown. Outbreak is now believed to be originated from live wild animals including bats and koalas sold at a notorious open air market in Wuhan city center. Holy f*ck this could not have happened at a worse time.
Over 1300 infected and 55 dead now… 1000 bed dedicated hospital being built right now in Wuhan by Army Corps of Engineers. To be ready for service in 6 days. Amazing response. Virus is showing no sign of stopping. Transmission rate is believed to be 1.4-2.0, making it as contagious as the regular flu. And still mutating as it’s pool of available genetic material expands with each transmission. Cases all over the world now. Two confirmed in India. That is potentially disastrous. Think flare gun being fired in a field of dry grass.
Check local ordinances before going outside, those of you in Beijing and Shanghai. The wearing of a face mask is MANDATORY in many places. Especially on mass transit.
Thank you for the comments, Blue Sky Country. Yes it is a developing situation around here and we all must stay informed and remain vigilant. I’m in a safe situation here in Beijing — no commute as I live right next to office — and otherwise stay at home.
I love all the rhymes
It’s very well done
And a timely reminder
Of what to do for my son!
My husband–he don’t care
Though his folks come from Hong Kong
It’s his white wife with the lai see
“‘Cause our last name is Wong!”
For your comment, I say thank you
Because to see it was a joy too
Wishing you a happy holiday at that
As we all welcome the year of the rat!
Happy Lunar New Year, Jocelyn! I can ‘t wait for another year of posts from you. I’m now ready to start making some nian gao with a big glass of bubble tea 😀
Ha ha, thank you so much, Half a lifelong romance!
Happy new year, Jocelyn!
Thank you George!
So lovely! Happy New Year! =^.^= ????
Happy New Year to you too Sha!
Tardy as usual but here’s wishing you and Jun
新年快乐
恭喜发财
红包拿来！
Wishing Wuhan and China quickly overcome the coronavirus monster.
I have often wondered why Sars and now the novel corornavirus afflict China and only Chinese people seem to suffer.
Just two days ago I was still wondering.
It may all be a conspiracy theory but no harm done wondering.
Consider, makes for interesting reading:-
https://metallicman.com/laoban4site/was-the-2020-wuhan-coronavirus-an-engineered-biological-attack-on-china-by-america-for-geopolitical-advantage
Hi Om Ni, thank you for the comment and your concern!
And forgot to mention, that conspiracy theory has been debunked: https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202002/03/WS5e372ec7a310128217274399.html
Hahaha…… but the ‘conspiracy theory article’ I was referring to was not pointing the finger on China. It was referring to another country if I am not mistaken hehehe……Well, till we know for certain about the origin of the novel coronavirus, there is always going to be one hypothesis or another. But if the ones who suffer from the virus and die from it are all Chinese people it does make one wonder. So far, there are reportedly no death from the virus of non-ethnic Chinese. There was a report of a German Caucasian who was reported to have been infected with only very mild symptoms and recovered promptly. Just wishing the theories floating around of the virus being biologically engineered in a bio-war lab are just conspiracy theories, nothing else and the work of of those having nothing better to do.
Om Ni, thanks for the clarification. Actually just saw news that a US citizen in Wuhan died of the virus.https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/08/american-diagnosed-with-new-coronavirus-died-in-wuhan-china.html
Would be interesting to know the American citizen’s ethnicity.
Opps! Forgot to mention.
That was a beautiful CNY rhyme of yours!