Williams St. S. - (Translation)

From Cuaderno de Belfast - Dublín

Rain just started...
... and the umbrella opens crossing the street.
It is that time when coffee shops
start to cool down
and redbrick buildings fill up with shadows.

Women poise on curbs
checking their watches after every step,
scrutinizing other gazes,
carrying the bags from boutiques or their butcher,
forgetting about the moisture stains
on the pavement.

Men cross hastily
as though rain (which just stopped)
could wash their faces
and discover the reflection of their desire
hidden in cling film and paper bags
(just wrapped in flooded cellars).

I feel the street's shiver
combing my ribs
... and my coffee is gone
... and it is late to go to the movies
... and the newspaper does not fill the gaps
through which the wind wheezes,
through which the look escapes.

Rain just stopped...
... and the umbrella closed after crossing the street.
It is that time when coffee shops
finally fill up
and light simmers
behind redbrick buildings.