Alvina Lai

My back is turned to the sharp rain.

Under the broken streetlight I am gray and solemn in my unsteady walk.

The cool breeze sends shivers through a heart that has stopped beating.

Without yours my hands are painfully numb and aching.

I question how the sky can become so angry and sorrowful.

Your long shadow trails down the lonely street.

The sky grumbles with displeasure when I mix my tears with its beautiful droplets.

Without me you are free from despair.

I imagine your gentle face as my chest fills with longing.

Your displaced kindness led to my lonely wandering.

Please come for with hope under a big red umbrella.

Save me from the dull tap-tap of this rain with your apologetic smile.

Are the leaves lonely on top of the tree

Where the wind always shifts them gently?

Is there meaning in healing wounds that have closed

And left a scar?

I think of when you left suddenly

When I see your friends.

I am reminded of your inability to remain

By my side those years ago.

Even though I have said you are free

I feel only erosion in the severed ties.

Do the leaves feel cold when the sun sets

And the sky turns into a dull grey?

Truly you are free from guilt

But deep inside I still do not understand you.

Should I allow the scar to remain

Fading into the rest of my skin?

How long will it be before I forget

Why I have this ugly line

Crossing my healing heart.

(discontinued)

The loneliness in your quiet heart echoes out loud.

There is little sunlight to caress the air.

Lonely steps forward mimic the crunching leaves beneath you.

Let’s forget that solemn sound.

We can reach the leaves while swinging towards the sky.

Begin now a new destiny.

Do you ever wonder where the stars go when they cry?
They don’t want us to see their tears.
Like them we hide our pain.
Our hearts lie still in the falling rain.
Forgive us for not remembering happiness.
Let’s try once more move the heavy clouds.
Tiny diamonds await us with their joyful wishes.

It’s okay to be alone as long as you’re happy. When you’re not, well, then it becomes a problem.

There’s a loneliness in my heart when we depart.

It is sad to walk away with the urge to look back for you.

I cannot resist following the yearning shadows that lead to you.

Sometimes I stand with the sun setting behind me.

The ground is orange with our fading footsteps.

My hair blows into my face as you disappear into the tired city.

I want to run and reach out to let our hands meet

when the hollow moon sees us together.

There is a teardrop glimmering in the dim streetlight.

Memories of our morning greeting are still warm.

Let’s meet again when the sun rises tomorrow.

Please wait for me as I come to you.