Letters from Jian Hui and other poems

Letters from Jian Hui and other poems
The Wildflower Press, 2002, Albuquerque, New Mexico
$12.00 (US)
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Poems in the first section of the book are based on actual letters the poet, after her year of teaching ESL in Beijing, received from a plucky young Chinese woman who was trying to make a good life for herself as an undocumented worker there.  Poems in the second section present various views of life in China as experienced by a variety of characters. "Bells" begins:  "By iron light he fell/ Cast from his fingers/ Bok choy, new green onions,/ and a package of small red shoes."

January
Dear Julia

I am very sorry to write you later.
A month ago when I got your letter I wrote to you.
At last I got myself your letter. It was returned.
I am so sad and I wanted to cry,
Because I am very afraid to lose our touch,
And I don't know how to say my heart.

Change has happened to me.
My company has moved to far from my house
And I have lots of works to do every day.
I get up at half past 6
And I wash my face and hands in a hurry
And clean the room
At 7 I ride my bike for 15 minutes.
Then I take the under road for 30 minutes.
At last I walk. So I am very tired on the way.

My office is half under room, half upper room.
The upper room in front is hotel and dining room
I eat there every day and the food is good.
All of the people work in the hotel.  They know me
So I am not lonely. I like it.

I stayed all day with my friend in the New Year.
We cooked ourselves.  What a pleasure in a day!

Now the weather is colder and colder because the wind.
The water is frozen but no snow.
I wish it.  I like the white world.
What is the weather in America?

I lost touch with Louise, your friend.
I called her once, then didn't.
I think she is too busy to bother.
She doesn't like you enjoy someone to visit.
Remember forever you.
We had good time together.
I hope our friendship is green forever.
I wish I could go into the lost life.