Evening Walk
/The sun slants down west
Time for my evening walk
I stroll along the garden walkway
Low lampposts line up like guards
White belly birds on posts
Disturbed by my approaching
Fly up to nearby trees
Tweet at ease
Turning into a quiet street
I walk with relaxing spirit except
Frown at the little river formed alongside
From overzealous sprinkling
Roses, poppies, birds of paradise and
Calla lilies bordering front yards of houses
Opening their blossoms to me in welcome
A squirrel scurries across
We almost collide
At a short distance, it sits up
Holding front limbs, like a sentry
Watching me walk away
The gnarled camphor trees
Graciously age the street
Trimmed, they still offer hefty shades
Scarred with round remnants on trunks
Silently, they lament the lost limbs
Their exposed roots were cleaved
To give way to the side walk
Unseen birds on trees
Sing delightful tunes
Melodies skitter in the evening air
Approaching a busy boulevard
The street ends with a cul-de-sac
A blessing for the neighborhood
With awe I gaze up at the sunset
Its magnificent hues and vastness
Turn the noise of boulevard traffic
Into a low hum and
This place otherworldly
By Shih-Fang Wang
From: United States