It rained all night uninterrupted

The autumn rain, damp and cool, mixed with the smell of soil.

Nestled  in the soft quilt,

Cozy warmth accompanied my sound sleep.

Before dawn break, I was rudely wakened up by the alarm o’clock,

And reluctantly I said adieu to my nice nest.

Outside it was overcast and misty.

Under the canopy of their umbrella,

Hurrying to the station were several pedestrians.

Quickening my steps, them I joined in.

Fewer people than usual were already awaiting there.

It was a good thing to me as it meant seat for each passenger.

My musing was suddenly brought to an end by a whirling car.

As it raced across a shallow pool,

It splashed churned-up muddy water towards us all.

Several of us innocent men were soaked by the unexpected shower,

My clean shirt and trousers were utterly soiled.

Oh!

Gloomy autumn morning.

 

Whatever, I made to the station

And within a few minutes arrived the train.

I got on and seated myself,

And looked around with caution.

There was a woman protesting at the man opposite,

Who had, during the fight for seat,

apparently pushed roughly against her and

against whom she bore a grudge.

The man mumbled indistinctly a few words and then kept his silence.

And the train dawdled along.

Lots of people got on the train, only a few getting off.

And the compartment grew crowded on and on.

But before it was too many,

I arrived at my destination.

Checking out at the exit, I found some man following me close at my heels,

At whom I cast a somber glance.

Seeing that he was under suspicion, the man fled away with haste.

Oh!

Sad autumn morning!

 

The bustle of the cafeteria was nowhere seen,

So I came in

And asked for a bowl of porridge and a piece of egg roll.

The warmth of the room expelled the cold away soon.

And my spirit picked up once again.

Three days from now it would be Mid-Autumn Festival!

And that day is also my mother’s birthday!

My eyes grew misty and my nose went sour,

And my mind wander far away!

My mother’s birthday and the festival of reunion!

Searching vainly those old days,

I was unable to find ONE DAY I had ever spent with my mother

And celebrated her birthday since I became independent.

I wanted to ignore it but the fact was undeniably true.

I could always find one excuse after another justifying my conduct,

But she had never complained,

As  I had always been the apple of her eye.

Now she has left me for ten years and come back no more.

Regrets and remorse having several times submerged me,

In a brainwave, I sent in my supplications:

God, could you help me fulfill one wish this year?

Just let me see her once

and let me tell her that her son miss her miserably?

Oh, Dreary autumn morning.