You learn something new every day. For example, your fortunes can be told not only by the zodiac sign associated with the year of your birth (I am a water dragon) but your personality can be predicted by the sign in combination with your blood type! Apparently AB positive dragons are “the most independent ones among all the Dragons. They love nature and travel far to enjoy various landscapes. The born sensitivity to art and beauty make them outstanding romantics.” Hmmmm.

Nature ✅ Travel ✅ Born sensitivity, eh? Dedicated to art and beauty, ✅ (if acquired rather than innate), but surely I cannot be counted as a romantic. Never have been, never will be.

I also learned that “Dragon women are typical feminists. They think women can perform as well as men, and even do better. Besides. They have a clear plan about their future and will be determined to fight for it. In life, women with Chinese zodiac Dragon sign prefer simple and comfortable clothing to fashionable styles. At work, they tend to be career-oriented and creative.”

Note that the claim is “we think” we can perform as well as men”, not that we do…. Hmmmmmm.

Not believing at all in horoscopes from any cultural background, I was nonetheless relieved that these instances of contradiction provide enough evidence of the futility of soothsaying. Thus I will not take the prediction that this is a year that will be hard for water dragons seriously… Hmmmmmm.

As the photographs show, I had occasion to check out Portland’s Lan – Su Chinese Garden, a few days after the Chinese New Year started. As beautiful a visit as ever, starting with the friendly smile of the young cashier who sported an extravagant tie brooch.

Lots of decorations for the occasion, including new (to me) lanterns that seemed disproportionately large for their surroundings, and some inexplicable plastic pandas climbing across the roofs near the tea house.

Signs of spring everywhere, in single blossoms, and budding magnolia capsules.

Hummingbirds came and went, resting near the dragon figures on the roofs.

If the dragons displayed across the garden did not suffice,

there were plenty more in the gift shop. Take your pick!

Not suitable, though, to represent the dragon of the poem below, who, in the end, decides to continue being a terror.

A Dragon’s Lament

I’m tired of being a dragon,
Ferocious and brimming with flame,
The cause of unspeakable terror
When anyone mentions my name.
I’m bored with my bad reputation
For being a miserable brute,
And being routinely expected.
To brazenly pillage and loot.

I wish that I weren’t repulsive,
Despicable, ruthless and fierce,
With talons designed to dismember
And fangs finely fashioned to pierce.
I’ve lost my desire for doing
The deeds any dragon should do,
But since I can’t alter my nature,
I guess I’ll just terrify you.

~ Jack Prelutsky

The boys loved that one when they were little. I wonder where the book is. Oh no, the predictions come true: a hard year it will be, if chaos rules the bookshelves and memory fails me…. Hmmmmm.

Of course the joke freezes on my tongue, when I see people dumpster diving right under a mural of the local PDX food distribution center for the houseless, Blanchet House, across from the garden. Talk about a hard year.

Here is Wu Man playing the pipa, a traditional Chinese instrument. Her fingers fly, just like a dragon.