Poem: Nian

by Brayden Ha Tzi Woon 4G

This poem was written for the Budding Poets Competition 2023-2024. The theme was “heritage”. Students wrote poems about festivals, traditions, customs, cuisines and myths. Some students even wrote about western heritage as a way to challenge themselves.

Nian

Once there was a beast called Nian.

It has horns like unicorns,

as long as a jumping pole;

Its teeth sharp as razor blades;

its skin spiky like cactus;

its breath smells like rotten eggs.

Living high in the mountains,

Sometimes deep in the ocean.

It charged into the village,

When it was close to New Year.

It wolfed down four deers three days,

Eleven chickens two days,

Five children on the day before New Year.

The villagers were full of fright and fear,

Wondering if their ends were almost near.

A wise man called Xiao Ming suddenly shared,

“Red is what scares Nian,

Noise is what it fears.”