Holding up an oil-paper umbrella, I loiter aimlessly in…
““Holding up an oil-paper umbrella, I loiter aimlessly in the long, long And lonely rainy alley, I hope to encounter A lilac-like girl Nursing her resentment A lilac-like color she has A lilac-like fragrance, A lilac-like sadness, Melancholy in the rain, Sorrowful and uncertain; She loiters aimlessly in this lonely rainy alley Holding up an oil-paper umbrella Just like me And just like me Walks silently, Apathetic, sad and disconsolate Silently she moves closer Moves closer and casts A sigh-like glance She glides by Like a dream Hazy and confused like a dream As in a dream she glides past Like a lilac spray, This girl glides past beside me; She silently moves away, moves away Up to the broken-down bamboo fence, To the end of the rainy alley. In the rains sad song, Her color vanishes Her fragrance diffuses, Even her Sigh-like glance, Lilac-like discontent Vanish. Holding up an oil-paper umbrella, alone Aimlessly walking in the long, long And lonely rainy alley, I wish for A lilac-like girl Nursing her resentment glide by.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poem paints a melancholic scene of a lone figure in a rainy alley, longing for a fleeting, lilac‑like encounter that dissolves with the rain.
In simple terms: A lonely wanderer longs for a fleeting, sad encounter in rain.
Key Takeaway
Embrace impermanence and find beauty in fleeting moments.
Themes
loneliness
longing
rain
memory
impermanence
Mood
melancholy
reflective
Type
poetic
artistic
When to use this quote
- rainy walks
- artistic inspiration
- mindful observation
Key Concepts
poetry
visual imagery
symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the lilac symbolize for you?
- How do you find meaning in fleeting encounters?
A Different Perspective
The abstract imagery may be too vague for concrete action.