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