Cathy Xinman is a B.C. resident who writes poems in English and Chinese. Xinman is also a screenwriter who was honoured with a golden statuette at the San Francisco International New Concept Film Festival in 2023, as well as the Remi Bronze Award for Dramatic Film Screenplay at the Houston International Film Festival in 2024. Pancouver is publishing her English-language poem “Late Cherry Blossoms” on the opening day of the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, which runs until April 28.
Late Cherry Blossoms
Angel, are you trying to use up spring?
Silver-gray trunks gaze with lips parted,
To make me sad.
Once more, you bloom from this place—
Pale pink sweetness,
Brighter, redder, heavier with petals,
Surging toward me in abundance.
Are you in a fairy tale, or am I?
You stir my heart in this way,
Yet my slow footsteps
Can’t persuade you to stay,
Can’t dissuade you
From your intoxication—
From the fragrance of your love.
Cathy Xinman’s English-language collection is entitled Where You Love Yourself. Find it on Amazon. The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 26 until April 28. Follow Pancouver on Instagram @PancouverMedia and on Bluesky @pancouver.
