James Poy Wong 黃培正

"Rain is like thoughts - when there is a convergence of gained knowledge, it would become an unstoppable, powerful current. It will sweep away all obstructing remnants and dregs and push down all violating forces against nature."

"Writing in the Rain" - 1947

写于雨中

从染污了的门窗望出去，砵士茂公园的一片青草和几株常绿树，出现在我的眼前。 雨从灰色的天空撒下，密集地叩击著红砖砌成的马路，汇成无数的小川， 沿着斜坡的企李街，急速有力地流下去。

横过公园的蜡青径上，徘徊著一个衣履不整的流浪汉。 雨把他从睡梦中推醒，他不知要到那里去避雨，去抵御寒气。

没有诗人称赞过雨的美丽，没有画家描写过雨的可爱，因为雨根本不是美丽和可爱的。

但在天旱的地方看来，雨不愧为甘霖，在船员渴得就要死亡的时候，雨可比诸圣露。 在另一方面，潦水可以成灾，霪雨搉残禾稻。 它必须依时降临，或早或迟，或多或少，都不受人欢迎。

雨和思想一样，在一些心得汇合起来的时候，成为一往无前的洪流，把阻扰着的残余渣滓，一扫无遗，把一切违反自然的势力推倒，使海洋翻起狂涛巨浪，或成高潮，或成海啸，冲上大陆，把一切挡着去路的东西摧毁，好让新的东西和制度，从纯洁的土壤中生长起来。

所以，在一方面，雨是破坏的力量，在另一方面，它又是过渡期间的必然现象，是无可避免的。 这现象不是可喜的，对于每一个人，都有多少损失，精神上的或是物质上的。 无而它有着新生的希望，预告着恶势力整个崩溃的喜讯。 故片时的难堪，就得耐心去容忍。

我再举首望出窗外，雨已止了，被冲洗过的街道，像镜子般的发出光辉。 人们开始在上面走动，虽然有些还提心吊胆地携著阳伞，载着雨帽，然而太阳快出来了。

Writing in the Rain

Looking out from the tainted window I see Portsmouth Square appearing in front of my view is covered by a field of green grass and a few evergreen trees. Rain is pouring down from the gray sky, knocking intensely on the red-brick surface of the street and forming countless small streams that flow speedily and forcefully down the slope of Clay Street.

Diagonally across from the park, a disheveled tramp is wandering on the asphalt path. The rain woke him up and he didn't know where to find cover and to resist the cold air.

No poet has praised the beauty of rain, and no artist has painted the loveliness of rain because rain is actually not beautiful nor lovely.

But viewing from the places in drought, rain deserves to be called timely rain. When a seaman is dying due to thirst, rain can be compared to holy dew. But in another perspective, surface water can cause catastrophe, while continuous rain will destroy rice crops. Rain must come at the right time, and if it is too early or too late, too much or too little, none would be welcomed by people.

Rain is like thoughts - when there is a convergence of gained knowledge, it would become an unstoppable, powerful current. It will sweep away all obstructing remnants and dregs and push down all violating forces against nature. It would whip up the raging billows and massive waves as it may rise to high tide or become a tsunami. It would rush up to the land and destroy all things blocking its way in order to allow new things and new systems to grow from purely clean soil.

Therefore, on one hand, rain is a destructive force, and on the other hand it is an inevitable phenomenon unavoidable during a transitional period. This phenomenon is not a happy event, as everyone will suffer some loss, either in spirit or material. But it gives hope for new life and it forecasts the good news of the complete collapse of the evil power. Thus, we have to patiently tolerate temporary unbearable situations.

I raise my head and look out the window again. The rain has stopped and the washed street is like a mirror reflecting a bright radiance. People are starting to walk on it, although some are still anxiously carrying umbrellas and wearing rain hats. Yet the sun will come out soon.