The 13 days of Spring Festival
On the second day before New Year my true love wants to see
House clean and tidy
My hair cut and snipped
Gift all prepared
Debt all paid up (except mortgage of course)
And a fat pig in an orange tree.
On the first day before New Year (2/17) my true love wants to see
Grocery shopping finished
Cooking for big reunion
Prayers to ancestors
Tawdry show on TV
Cell-phone greetings a-sending
Firecrackers a-bursting
(If you're not living in metropolitan areas restricted by law)
And a fat pig in an orange tree.
On the first day of New Year (2/18) my true love wants to see
Bright happy clothing
Gods and guests a-welcoming
Endless tea and candies
Red envelopes handed over
To kids and single people
Nothing with a "four"
No hair a-washing
No floors a-sweeping
No scissors or knives
Everybody smiling
Smiles to all street beggars
And a fat pig in an orange tree.
On the second day of New Year (2/19) my true love wants to see
Relatives and friends a-knocking
Smokes a-smoking
Much eating and drinking
Fun but kindness to dogs (and hogs)
And a fat pig in an orange tree.
On the third day of New Year (2/20) my true love wants to see
Respect to all our in-laws
Loads and loads of presents
Obedience and respect
And a fat pig in an orange tree.
On the fourth day of New Year (2/21) my true love wants to see
Kids in parks a-playing
Temple fairs with good old fun
Like walking on sticks
And changing masks
And solving lantern riddles
And learning life's lessons
And a fat pig in an orange tree.
On the fifth day of New Year (2/22) my true love wants to see
The garbage taken out
The God of Wealth welcomed
Both of us at home
No visitors a-knocking
And a fat pig in an orange tree.
On the sixth day of New Year (2/23) my true love wants to see
Friends a-visiting
Nice words and good wine
Some show worth a-watching
And a fat pig in an orange tree.
On the seventh day of New Year (2/24) my true wants to see
The mess cleaned up
Everything packed up
That train or plane we're catching
To the city where we're living
And a fat pig in an orange tree.
On the eighth day of New Year (2/25) my true love wants to see
Work desk a-waiting
Co-workers with stories
Tons of delicious goodies
Gatherings with old classmates
- all richer than me
And a fat pig in an orange tree.
On the ninth day of New Year (2/26) my true love wants to see
Serious work on schedule
E-mails all replied
Desktop rearranged
Work blues a-fighting
Waiting for next year's bonus
And a pig in an orange tree.
On the 10th day through 14th day (2/27-3/3) my true love wants to see
All good workers working
No more festivities
Losing those extra pounds
From a week of over-eating
And a fat pig in an orange tree.
On the 15th day of New Year (3/4) my true love wants to see
Sweet juicy dumplings
On bridges and in suburbs a-walking
Basking in glows of lanterns
Saying goodbye to holiday season
And a fat pig in an orange tree.
(China Daily 02/16/2007 page18)
