June Rock

Evening in early summer, people are strolling about.
As I ride my bike out of the woods in the park
There’s a man walking in front of the drinking fountain.
Another young man goes down to the base of the bridge
Turns suddenly and goes back up the slope.
Seduced by the humid but pleasant evening breeze,
They’ve all gone outside to while away the time.

Today I went to buy an ethernet card in the electronics shop
On the other side of the woods. My old one broke, so I went to replace it.
The ethernet card is what connects the computer to other circuits
So the computer was reconnected
To the world.

It was humid, but there was a breeze—
An entire day spent outside in the humid wind.
I ring the bell on my bike, passing lots of people,
There’s a place for storing bikes three steps up,
I ride down those three steps on my bike.

I want to sing, “Rally ho! Rally ho!”
On the third-floor elevator landing, I look at the twilight stars
I want to sing, “Rally, rally ho!”
I grab an aluminum bottle of Coke, twist off the lid
Letting out a rush of fizz, and hit the elevator button down
A gulp later, my thoughts turn toward the shapeless masses in the sky.

On the days the clouds are thick, my thoughts turn to what’s beyond.
My heart stays bright even though the clouds hang low.
I realize the reason I’m so happy is because
The rain will come soon. My heart grows light before the rain.
I hope the humidity will rise. I want the wind to blow harder.
Through the glass of the window, I see the twilight clouds
Rising above the rooftops.

I sense a shower. May the trees lining the street rustle more loudly,
May the shining streaks of rain strike the leaves with more and more strength,
The rainy season foretells the coming of summer, things have come clearly
Into focus. But like clouds swept away, I will be too.
It is twilight as I go to meet someone—tonight let us dine
To head off the weariness of the summer yet to come

Everyone, come out into this wet wind!
We’ll dash through it on our bikes.
Let’s go have a beer in the café with the bright lights on the sloping street
As we enjoy the sadness of early summer, seated in the wet, evening wind!
How my heart wells up! Suddenly, a June shower, a burst of rain
Wets my cheeks with delicate drops.

JUNE ROCK