The Romance of Oz

Write my songs, send my cheers How could one forget? Why the birds chirp,  Why the winter sun sets? Though one and done, I have no regrets I, who turned south Who's heart is out west. Willow birds sing my songs Red Tulips cover my heart Moonlight lights my path White Cranes show my past Oh! Dear crimson wine Tell me my sins Any never done? Any repeats? This abyss of thirst  Blinds my own dreams Under a lone oak tree No shade for me it seems Dear thin mountain air,  Please cool my sweat As I close my eyes I place a final bet When it's all at the end I will have my laugh Family, foe or friend Will have to understand. 

Many heroes came down to the river They watched Zhou Yu's spectacle Some in awe, some in fear Thousand of lives expandable From the burning river cries arose Since then the river never froze Red Cliffs are forever ablaze Testament to the mystery of heaven's ways. 

I gave my birds some millet They sang for me I gave my pen some love But the pen will not write for me

Cold wind slashes open my cheek Air singes, and rattles my bones I make my way back to my tea I write these lines in the comfort of my home Fragrant flavors dance around my nose Thoughts and Images freely roam A bowl of soup for this hungry stomach A kind companion for this soul, alone. 

Day after day, we till the same fields Yearning for a different tomorrow, we eat the same meals Unable to bear the task, we run from our fears Powerless and weak, we hide from mirrors When will we understand there's no use in tears Drowning in self pity, porn and beers All for naught All such pity Even the learned of old knew Within one's will is strength If ignored this ancient echoes All left in hands in wasted years

 Chaos disguised as order, From the 4 seas, to the western border. Students scream freedom, Peasants used as fodder. Jade emperor nudges heaven "They are defying your will" But heaven didn't bother "Today, my will is to make the new emperor pay the bill".

      Friend, I've recently been acquainted with you and somewhat been hearing about your routines. From my limited interaction with you, I can tell that you are a humble man with limited ulterior motives. You simply want a humble life filled with the small joys and the pleasure of fatherhood and being a good husband. Yet, you feel as if your vice blinds you and keeps you in a stranglehold, in which you are a part of a vicious cycle. I am writing this as a way to convince you of your own power as well as the limited power of your fears.      As a rule of thumb, when I face difficulty, fear, terror, pain, anger, etc in life, I immediately stop and take a step back. I take deep breaths and try to compose myself while looking at the big picture and looking for opportunities for a safe counterattack. If you've ever played chess before you'll know that acting on impulse and making a series of quick and thoughtless decisions/actions leads to inevitable disaster. ...