Morning on the Pearl River
To the editor:
The mornings are getting earlier here in Guangzhou. Early morning finds the city slowly waking up and stretching its legs. McDonald’s finally opened a restaurant on the campus. Sitting in the new place you see many things that were once more common within the neighborhoods.
There is the grandfather and toddler walking around the parking lot. One young face thrilled with the experience of meeting new challenges. One old, wizened face full of joy at the exuberance of his grandson taking pleasure in a new skill. Across the expanse of parking tiles a vendor sets up his cart with morning fare, soy milk and breakfast cakes and nibbles. His simple cart equipped with a gas burner, plate and humble sign its own alternative to the yellow and gold.
Sunlight reflects around the square illuminating the creases and folds of squares and corners. Children play and scamper in-between excited to be up and out in the sunshine. Time will tell if they find a world that welcomes them.
The swallows are enjoying a feast and their swooping circles in the neighborhood counter the rigid square and frame of walls that constantly change. Buses begin their journey gathering the denizens and moving to their own rhythm. The sun climbs higher with golds and purples carving the landscape of dormitories, laundry and streets to create a fantasmic sight. The sounds of engines turning, stuff being loaded and unloaded, the moped delivery driver pulling up in front of the door and dropping off a small bundle or two of goods and then dashing off to the next customer.
It is an interesting day and it is just beginning. The proud grandfather holds his grandson’s hands as the grandson starts to practice walking, his face filled with joy at this new sensation. A shriek and the child is off on his own, running to the pylons and beckoning for his minders to follow. Flitting past his ear, the swallow chases down a mosquito and arcs into the sky. It is a glorious dawn on the Pearl River.
Orpheus Allison
Guangzhou, China
orpheusallison@mac.com
