havana, rose, myrrh –
that shimmering Egyptian yellow.
the heavy scent of kyphi kicked –
this was no ordinary day.
through the smoke we played,
we were harvesting a magnetic ritual.
bathed we were, in the scent of our souls.

we played with heart-shaped seashells,
tossing sea-like broth as kids do.
the French rooster crowed a screaming red. oui
orange and blue, a floral bloom scared.
i held it in my arms,
huh ! a bouquet made for me.
i sniggered to meself – life !

big hugs went round the table as we feasted like Kings and Queens.
there was much to be said,
or none at all.
the facade was as the interior,
warm, fuzzy – blessed.

the next day, cold tunes of 90s played.
we bimbled around, past, and into the Cathedral.
a thousand candles burned,
the twelve apostles smiled at me.
melodious merriment down the carpet danced –
we soaked in majors and minors.
between the arched pillars lay the most sacred of all.
spoken was not the last speech but the very first.
long, live, life !
under a sky full of stars,
a special day elapsed.

i’m a lucky man,
so, so lucky……

Alexander Shao-Rong Pang

Meaning within: the raw feelings, on a very special birthday spent.