Rainy Night

Translated by Bob Chen

Rain drops swoop sideways down the street,
soaking through the drunkard's homeward bound
steps.
Opening the window to hear the whistling wind,
waking the cold night's dreamy eyes
to see fuzzily.
Wobbling
foot-steps,
tripped the carton box under the eaves,
startled the tired sprawling hobo.
Shocked to wake up
and remember past events throughout the young night.
Long night jolts the memory of
fireside laughters that tease the listeners' waists,
the hollering wind by the seaside causes
the sea lion to rock and roll,
the gazebo in the rain houses
the kitten that mews in the cold.
The downpours brought by El Nino
sweep the street lights to glow dim,
hey!
The rain should cleanse everything to a sparkle.
Sparkling
long night
with endless memories.

Written in Chinese by Tony Kowk, and translated by Bob Chen.