“The bicycle baskets are full of royal poinciana flowers/ Where are you taking my summer?”… One afternoon after the harsh sunlight, the music of “Royal Poinciana” came from a small speaker next to the neighbor’s house, making the little girl, who had passed her 18th birthday many times, hesitate. Not knowing since when, summer has been associated with the bright color of that flower. A vibrant, passionate, earnest red color and also endless regretful hesitation.
That day, in the sunshine of May and the clear sound of cicadas, the Lao wind rustled, pushing the royal poinciana petals that covered the students' bikes. How lovely it was to see the bike baskets full of royal poinciana flowers after school. I also loved the times when my friends were naughty, competing to hide each beautiful royal poinciana petal in their bags to press on the pages of their books. The skillful ones made small butterflies and peacocks. And so, until the new school year, the whole group had something to show off to each other. The red color of royal poinciana flowers is the color of love, the rows of royal poinciana flowers in the school yard also witnessed the love of students, of many promises of couples.
Then came the time when the excitement and anticipation of the Royal Poinciana season were replaced by the worry of the day of separation, the worry of piles of papers for the final exam of student life, for the first time as a student and the dream of reaching the university gate. Passing around a few lines of messages, hoping that you and I would pass the upcoming important exams. That bright red Royal Poinciana flower was wrapped and given to each other. The "souvenir" of student days has followed so many people in the years that followed. And then every time I turn back to the yearbook, I have to be gentle and careful for fear of breaking the petals of that memorable day...
In the midst of the vast blue sky, the royal poinciana is still confident and proud, stretching out to show off its beauty under the golden sunlight. Strangely enough, the brighter the sunlight, the more brilliant the royal poinciana is. Its strong vitality is like a reminder to each generation of students that, no matter how many hardships and challenges they go through, they must strive to overcome them and walk strongly on the path of life.
I don’t know if anyone in the white shirt era still likes to pick up fallen phoenix flowers to press into the pages of a book, but that red color remains beautiful forever in the May sunlight. That flower color, that flower blends with the cicadas’ song of summer. And I suddenly remember that I used to have so many dreams and memories, so that when summer comes, I feel a deep longing…
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