In my dream, I am Nezha’s mortal form,
feet upon Wind-Fire Wheels—
sprinting madly forward.
Snow swirls, the earth frozen in dead silence,
black forest castles wail.
My pal Sky-Dragon lies broken,
as the Chan Cult Master laughs:
Where is the fabled Seven-Colored Lotus?
There is only my Tianyuan Cauldron—
in this vast world, who can escape?
Through veiled heavens, my wheels spin,
my Fire-Tipped Spear striking, thrusting…
banishing demons, battling through the night.
Dawn cracks its eggshell. I awaken—
But what if this waking world is an inferno?
What if the true battle begins
when my dream’s ash cools?
ANNA YIN was Mississauga’s inaugural Poet Laureate (2015–2017) and is the author of seven poetry collections, including Breaking Into Blossom (Frontenac Press, 2025). She has translated four poetry books, notably Mirrors and Windows (Guernica Editions, 2021). Her work has appeared in Queen’s Quarterly, ARC Poetry, The New York Times, China Daily, CBC Radio, and more. She has read on Parliament Hill, at international festivals, and at universities in China, Canada, and the U.S. A recipient of multiple awards and grants, she created and teaches Poetry Alive to bring poetry into schools, colleges, and communities. website:annapoetry.com
