The river at the back of my house,,
our paradise in peaceful time,
we bathe in its coolness,
we draw water for home use
and watch fish swim.
The river at the back of my house,
where women on rafts wash
clothes;
they immerse soapy clothes
and watch the dirt float away ,
Their chatter and laughter ring.
The river at the back of my house ,
we hope you don't run dry
as we draw buckets of water from you .
We dance , laugh and splash
in your water.
I, fall asleep
when you murmur ,
on the grass that grow profusely
as evening comes uninvited
.
I see grey moss hung from branches .
Every leaf , each flower, each twig
dances its reflection in the running water .
Birds are bubbling songs ;
songs
of the wild, the rising moon,
morning dew and sweet berries.
Sing on , you pretty birds,
dusk will soon be here
!
The river at the back of my house ,
You swell after a rainstorm,
no longer our friend, you roar.
We stand far away and watch
your muddy water flowing fast,
to the sea ! To the sea !
The river in my dream,
flow , flow , flow ,
to the sea , to the sea
endlessly ,
all day long and all night long
in such a hurry ;
my river of no return !
By Agatha Lai ©
