15th May 2023. 1 min read
By author at Crush Cafe in Shanghai
What a blessed time I found
To be disconnected from the larger part of the world
Not of my own volition
No Google, no Yahoo, no WhatsApp
Here in China, where people mill around peacefully
I can’t help but feel flustered and frustrated initially
But regardless, I must step out and face the unknown
Back to the basics of asking, deciphering the map and using instinct
Seeking places to cool off to gather my thoughts together
To discover that there are lovely respites
Where one can simmer and slow down
Life’s solutions present themselves like the coffee served to me
I could go out again with new eyes and renewed confidence
The world is not as troublesome or worrisome as I think
Only waiting for me to overcome in a different way.
Indeed, this poem reflects on things that you least expected them to occur , had indeed occurred in life, as u now found out in shanghai which had indeed been dramatically transformed since ur last visit eons ago.
But in a way, it brings you back to the basics, where instincts predominate and prevail and that life is still beautiful in whatever form it takes, provided you remain steadfast, confident and calm in whatever you do and not succumb to fear, frustration and inconvenience along the way.. This then is the new shanghai u saw, with your tinted glass removed, a new experience u found and its genuine beauty beneath its superficial facade. Indeed such is the blessed time you have as u gallivant in the city , so treasure every savoury moment of urs even as you walked along the historical Bund and bumped into kind stranger willing to lend you a helping hand and took some epic poses of each other to remember and to reflect for a long time to come. .
Take care, stay strong and stay safe , while u r still there, a place now deemed to be very safe with camera surveillance everywhere.
Thank you Wah, the master of narrative, your feedback comprehensive, clear and thought provoking!