I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say “he feels deeply, he feels tenderly.”
— Vincent van Gogh, painter
A love for poetry runs in my family, and because of this, I’ve enjoyed writing poems for more than 10 years. Writing allows me to express my feelings and appreciation toward life in an excellent way that even mathematics cannot easily find or achieve. If you find these poems tasteful, maybe you and I are quite congenial. I’m very open-minded and I wholeheartedly embrace inclusiveness, diversity, and unchained creation. In a sense (up to isomorphism), they are what my poetry is all about.
In addition, I greatly enjoy reading and recording poems. By clicking on some of the poem titles below (which are hyperlinked), you can listen to my recordings: some feature my cloned voice created by play.ht, while others are in my actual voice. Click here to explore my recordings of other famous poems, all of which are in my real voice.
Preface. Campus’s Ode to Tomorrow II
(Ivan’s Real Voice; Ivan’s Cloned Voice)
As new flowers unfold and grow,
An ancient hall greets birds in tow.
The wind shares spring’s tender grace,
Welcoming a world with a nostalgic flow.
Care surrounds, and doubts abate.
Our dread and guard can liberate.
As yesterday’s shore gleams bright,
Hope’s beacon in our hearts lightens its fate.
From dreamy realms to the fairyland,
Clouds descend, the aurora to expand.
Melting ice, from the approaching shore,
Resting surges in peace, a scene so grand.
I cherish the sunlight so dreamy and free,
Illuminating the earth, without constraint or decree.
Throwing a hope to all, the sunset shines bold,
Embraced by the sky, it twinkles with glee.
As stars return home, all hopes are aglow.
In twilight’s repose, we bask in dreams’ flow.
Nostalgia’s winds collect hope in the air,
Our destination, where wonders grow.
Ivan Z. Feng
3/13/2024
At UCLA Campus
XIV. Rebellious Charm
A breeze sends a hint of warmth
Amidst the heart of a weary hustle
Dreamy colors falling from the night
Igniting two years’ shivering sky
It’s here, right here
A town with nostalgic pull
Taking the sleepless heart back
Saving melancholy’s moonlight
Now, right now
Feel the warmth of the land
A crossroads of dream and past
Grab the next gust of wind
Two years, folded in ancient leaves
Scattered in the wind’s charm
Traveling through the entire night
Lightened in dawn’s forgotten clouds
Jun 25, 2023
On South Flower St, LA
XIII. Father’s Day Ode
Morning whispers weave through time,
Guiding steps with a dad’s rhyme.
Strength gently whispered in the dawn,
A steadfast love that carries on.
Evening’s shadows, bold and deep,
Under his watch, we safely keep.
Clad in nature’s quiet embrace,
His presence felt with tender grace.
Stars trace his path across the night,
A guardian firm in the moon’s soft light.
Dreams once silent, now brightly displayed,
Reflect the colors of promises made.
At the heart of the night, he stands with pride,
Glowing with wisdom life has supplied.
Through challenges faced with a steady stride,
In his guidance, we confidently reside.
Meadows respond to his caring gaze,
Life’s echoes resonate, setting hearts ablaze.
Each step met with courage so bold,
His story of love, eternally told.
Father’s Day, 2024
XII. Arisen in Los Angeles
(A poetic tribute, this poem carries on the lost echoes of “Awaken in Los Angeles” from last summer and “Lost in Los Angeles” from two summers ago.)
Are you tired?
Moonlight once more caressed the sky.
Have you felt the charmed wind’s care?
It’s an arising land, alright.
Are you tired?
Innocent trails have awakened the heart.
Dreamy paths all lead to the eventide.
In their repose, the unknown floats.
Are you tired?
Different towers emit the same light.
Colorful fountains soothe memories grand.
Serene ripples intoxicated the intangible night.
Are you tired?
Ancient rails extended a homebound mind.
When the tunnel greets promised stars,
Why is mysterious grace arising in plight?
Are you tired?
It’s been so much time and tide.
Water flows to the soul’s hills.
Let the best of moments linger and shine!
Are you tired?
Weary stars are ready to rest.
Have you found the solace tonight?
It’s an arising land, alright.
Memorial Day, 2024
XI*. Edge of Water
Under a soft sky’s watchful eye,
Life stirs by the lake’s gentle sigh.
Green arms cradle the breeze,
Whispers weave through the trees.
Geese, with necks like night,
Ripple the quiet waters bright.
Ducks, in untroubled grace,
Glide through nature’s embrace.
A lone goose, white as snow,
Amidst the flock, finds its flow.
Here, where land and water kiss,
Life sings a song of peace and bliss.
In this park, a shared space,
Beauty penned by nature’s grace.
All together, wings greet a heart,
In harmony, a world apart.
May 13, 2024
At Lincoln Park
X. A Long Way
Shades cover a flower’s sights
Nature’s eyes unfold a tale untold
Sunlight has come a long way
To reach the green field of wonders
Trees whisper yesteryear’s lullabies
Bygone times flow through leaves above
Tender songs pouring down
Transforming to colors of wisdom’s bloom
Green moments floating down
Paint the dusk with brushes of love
Moonlight has waited a long time
To feel the embrace of dreams
At Vista Hermosa Park
May 12, 2024
IX*. A Mother’s Day Ode for Mom
Bygone whispers filter through,
Leaves of time softly parting in twain.
Echoes of joy subtly renew,
As breezes waft a bright morrow’s refrain.
As dusk draws its curtains, calling soft and calm,
Homebound fantasies take flight on golden glow.
Adorned with the scent of night’s tender palm,
The breeze carries songs where love’s rivers flow.
Stars sprinkle light across the eternal field,
Where the night’s embrace holds moonlit sway.
Silhouettes of dreams once silently sealed,
Now bloom with the colors of yesteryear’s May.
Therein lies a heart, steady and pure,
Glowing under the spotlight of serene lunar rays.
Nestled in dreams that softly lure,
Through the tranquil gardens of comforted gaze.
Fields of flowers wake in colored bloom,
Whispering love, like her lullabies sweet.
In every petal, fond memories loom.
Laying down paths where sky and fragrance meet.
Each blossom opens with a silent cheer,
Celebrating her warmth with every hue.
Breezes’ tender whispers, clear and dear,
Paints the day in tones of gratitude anew.
Mother’s Day, 2024
VIII*. Ascent through Blossoms (Villanelle)
The winding stairs through blooms, they beckon bright,
Among the yellows wild, the sky o’ercast,
Each step ascends into the veiled light.
With weary legs and hearts as light as kites,
Through floral seas whose beauty’s hold is vast,
The winding stairs through blooms, they beckon bright.
The path, though steep, with nature’s charm is dight,
A whispered calm where time seems to have passed,
Each step ascends into the veiled light.
And there, the climbers in their arduous plight,
With pulses quick and breaths that come so fast,
The winding stairs through blooms, they beckon bright.
To rise on steps where flowers meet the height,
Where every view a painting, wide and vast,
Each step ascends into the veiled light.
So let us climb, though clouds may hide the sight,
For each step conquered, in joy we’ll hold it fast,
The winding stairs through blooms, they beckon bright,
Each step ascends into the veiled light.
May 12, 2024
At Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
VII. Half a year
Another half a year,
In the turbulent fountain,
Flows to the tale’s margin.
Empty longing drifts down,
Collecting dewdrop’s strength,
Amidst pebbles’ waves.
The moon’s first hue,
Reflecting in the dream,
Is finding its way home.
Another half a year,
Wanting soul is weary,
Ascending with the water pillar.
May 5, 2024
At the Westin-Bonaventure Hotel
VI*. Echoes of Yesterday
In the arms of the park where whispers wind,
Yellow blossoms dance, memories unspun.
From dreams once cradled in childhood’s mind,
Recurring visions under the same sun.
The greenery, lush, bathed in light’s embrace,
Calls softly, a murmur through leaves and air.
A panorama unfolds, a tranquil space,
Where skies are bright and clouds drift with flair.
Around me, serenity’s gentle sweep,
A landscape wrapped in the quiet of dreams,
Echoing yesterdays we wake and keep,
As today’s canvas with past hues it teems.
Each tree stands witness to time’s silent flow,
While the wind returns home, paths well-trodden,
It circles back to the known, soft and slow,
Awakened dreams, in the heart they broaden.
Through the veil of time, I step and return,
To this familiar yet transformed expanse,
Where every visit stirs memories that burn,
In the park’s embrace, past and present dance.
As if stepping back into a child’s reverie,
Every corner, every turn, feels anew,
Kenneth Hahn’s whispers of legacy,
Hold the echoes of old, in morning’s dew.
May 4, 2024
At Kenneth Hahn Park
V*. The Math 225 Trilogy
(i) Algebraic Adventures: A Midterm Ode for My Students
As the echoes of our midterm gently fade,
In linear algebra’s realm, our minds wade.
Vectors, with direction, life’s guiding thread,
Pointing us forward, to where dreams are led.
When linear combinations merge, two journeys unite,
Spanning connections, with pure-hearted might.
Invertible matrices, a path so clear,
Each determinant non-zero, brings solutions near.
Full rank, a beacon in hearts’ sea,
Signaling independence, where vectors roam free.
Row echelon form, unfettered zeros appear,
Guiding through unknowns, eliminating fear.
Hidden in null space, dormant vectors wait,
Rank-nullity’s tale, their silent fate.
In subspaces’ dimension, where our paths align,
Closed under addition, in harmony divine.
So to my students, in this mathematical quest,
In these formulas, your knowledge is blessed.
In every pivot and swap, where dreams intertwine,
May this journey of wonder, in your hearts forever shine!
Your friend in time of need,
Ivan
Presidents’ Day, 2024
(ii) A Sonnet for Math 225 Scholars
Listen to the poem here [read by Prof. Geske]
In square matrices of love, solutions unique arise,
Full rank ensures non-degenerate paths are bright.
With each invertible quest, our spirit flies,
Determinant of hope, never vanishing in midterm’s night.
No more lost in nullspace, our images shine true,
Conquering trivial kernels, injective courage we secure.
The Wronskian still intact, independent faiths renew,
Spanning realms of wisdom, with linear truths pure.
In cofactor’s embrace, fear’s minors fall,
Though bases are transformed, hold invariant strength dear.
Rank-nullity waves tales, as fate’s echoes call.
Eigenbasis nondefective, diagonalizable purities appear.
In our journey’s initial values, love’s equation is set,
A differential path of joy, in moments we collect.
March 31, 2024
(iii) A Final Linear Algebra Poem for You
Listen to the poem here [read by Emily Ramírez]
In the gentle embrace of linear algebra’s lore,
We wandered together, through formulas galore.
Now as the final equation finds its roots,
Congrats on mastering algebra’s pursuits!
In this final chapter, as our paths diverge,
I cherish the memories, like a harmonic surge.
Though we bid farewell, our spirits entwined,
On destiny’s expansive graph, beautifully aligned.
In life’s grand matrix, plot your tales bold,
In vectors of courage, with eigenvalues gold.
In the span of my heart, you’ve held a place,
A combination of grace, time shall never erase.
You’re not just students, but stars in my sky,
Glowing fervently, as moments slip by.
In this sweet discussion parting’s embrace,
You’ve warmed my heart, a feeling I’ll forever chase.
In the algebra of life, may your paths be clear,
With knowledge and memories we hold dear.
With courage as your compass, and love as your light,
In the firmament of time, you’ll shine ever bright!
Your friend in time of need,
Ivan
April 25, 2024
IV. A Birthday Ode for Me
Still walking forward, I want to sing with my heart.
Excited memories unroll, a life of wonder from the start.
The sun shining bold, nightingales return from yesterday,
Delivering the charming rhyme, serenading ripples with tender art.
Do you feel it? A sunbeam is falling here.
A mint of melody rising, reflecting the billow’s flair.
All flowers blooming at the most enchanting moment,
Intoxicated by the sunrise, with lingering fondness in the air.
Like a song, floating years subtly pass by,
Swirling in the wind’s land, dancing in the rainbow’s sky.
Like a dream, unruly eagerness dwells,
Greeting the lost phoenix, still having the strength to fly.
Still walking forward, I want to sing with my heart!
Infinite aspirations arise, as fears drift apart.
Love’s leaves awaken, reflecting dust’s afterglow.
At fate’s crossroads, greeting the next wonder’s start.
Mar 31, 2024
At Long Beach
In a water garden, arisen as a dream,
Echoes of a memory, like a fleeting gleam.
Detached fountains lean in, eager and free,
As the warm sky shares a trace of glee.
Carefree birds take flight, into dream’s night,
Awaiting serenity’s call, with all their might.
Weird flowers ponder, unruly light,
As the sun keeps waiting in delight.
When did the phoenix come to play?
He’s the same bird, awoken in yesterday.
Time has flown, oh so fast!
A port beckoning, he’s come at last.
Everything now is poised and reset,
Wind chases wind, as if in destiny’s duet.
Before the melancholy begins to soar,
Find their passion, find their shore.
3/12/2024
Santa Monica Water Garden
II. The Childhood Trilogy
(i) Painting
Pull out a piece of paper,
I’m drawing the cloud in the sky.
The one over there,
It’s like a candy, right?
Look, there’s a bird coming.
It’s pretty happy and free.
I want to have wings too,
Because then I can taste the cloud.
Oh, the sun is out now.
Does the bird like the sunshine?
I guess he does very much,
Because he’s flying faster.
What’s above the sky?
Are there any rivers there?
I wish I was the sun.
Then I can paint them all here.
Jan 5, 2024
(ii) Nature
I like nature,
Because it looks great,
Just like me.
There’s a tree there.
It’s green and tall.
Birds like it.
Birds are awesome,
Because they are so free.
They can go almost everywhere.
The sun is taller,
But why aren’t birds there?
Maybe it’s too hot.
Trees are near the sun.
Can they feel the hot?
Guess yes, but they just can’t move.
Ahead is a river.
It’s pretty long and blue,
Like the sky above it.
Looks like the sky is in the water.
I know it’s reflection like a mirror,
But does that make the river blue?
I really admire those fish,
Because they are like the birds:
They can fly in the water’s sky.
Though birds can’t go to the river,
It looks like they and the fish are together.
That’s also cool, right?
Always a lot to explore,
And it’s easy to have fun.
That’s why I like nature.
Jan 6, 2024
(iii) Night
The night is deep.
How deep is it?
It’s not like the river.
So I can not measure.
There are lots of stars.
Where were they in daylight?
Oh, maybe just like the sun,
They moved to the other side.
There can be no stars though.
Did they forget to come?
The sun never missed a day.
Uh, it’s just so weird.
Stars are many but small.
But putting stars together,
Will they be bright as the sun?
Guess not, because nights are always dark.
Wait, did they ever come together?
Maybe they were together.
Maybe an explosion separated them?
So they’re now lonely.
How many stars are there?
As many as people living here?
No, I think stars are more than people,
Because under many stars it’s only me now.
The moon seems lonely too,
Even more lonely than the stars.
Because stars are many.
But the moon is only one.
Is the moon like a big star?
Well, stars can twinkle,
But the moon has never changed tonight,
So, I think it’s like the sun.
Yeah, the moon is less lonely than the sun,
Because it has stars in its sky.
Stars are like people,
They can always stay together.
I want to go meet the sun.
Because maybe it needs company.
No stars are there with it yet,
I want to tell it “I like you!”
Jan 7, 2024
I. New Dawn
Stars’ light gleaming,
Moments of freedom sway.
Grand waves fleeting,
Times of golden memories stay.
Yesteryear’s purity descending,
Melting glamor dwells.
Nostalgic towers standing,
Guarding echoes of bells.
Lonely pebbles, hiding a tale,
Ripples resonate with their trace.
They seem like melancholy’s tail,
Of past feeling’s embrace.
Dewdrops shining,
The moon’s first hue.
Courageous paths aligning,
Protecting the heart-melting view.
Written on New Year’s Day 2024
at the Westin-Bonaventure Hotel
Past Poems
Personal Poetry Links
Medium “Visiting the Poetic Mountaintop of AI” page
For the poems marked with an asterisk (*), I give credit to AI for its assistance in enhancing the beauty of lines through word choice and improved flow. I find that AI can be a great tool in poetry writing, and I like to leverage its suggestions and incorporate them into my work using my carefully chosen expressions, ensuring that every line and word reflects my unique style and personal experience, still giving them a soul of my own. Here (“Visiting the Poetic Mountaintop of AI”) are my stories of modifying my poems using AI.
If you happen to enjoy reading or dubbing, you are welcome to read any of my poems above and email your recordings to me at ifeng@usc.edu. I will post your recordings on this page, allowing everyone who visits to listen to your voice. Of course, please feel free to provide me with comments and critiques about my wording.
Last update: Jun 26, 2024
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