Written Before Rain

  
rain comes up from the South, falls for a while
then leaves for the Bohai Sea, Japan, the Bay of Dalian
I sit on my narrow balcony rubbing my belly
and, like a frog in a well, bear witness to dusk
to the low-flying flocks of birds
with my meanspiritedness
and with superb compassion, call to mind  
the green hills of Africa,
the dark River of Jordan

WRITTEN BEFORE RAIN