家

我獨自走在穿越田地的小路上，夕陽如同一個吝嗇鬼，正藏起它最后的一點金子。

白晝漸漸沒入深沉的黑暗之中，那已收割了的田野更加孤寂、沉默地躺在那里。

突然，天空中傳來一個男孩尖銳的歌聲，他正穿越看不見的黑暗，把他的歌聲留在靜謐的黃昏里，久久回蕩。

他的家就在荒地邊緣的村落里，穿過甘蔗園，在香蕉樹和瘦長的檳榔樹后面，椰樹和深綠色的榴蓮的陰影里。

我在星光下獨自行走，途中停留了片刻，幽暗的大地正在我面前展開，用她的雙臂擁抱著無數的家庭，在那里有搖籃和床鋪，有母親們的心和夜晚的燈光，還有年輕的生命，自然而歡樂，卻全然不知這歡樂對于世界的價值。

The Home

I paced alone on the road across the field while the sunset was hiding its last gold like a miser.

The daylight sank deeper and deeper into the darkness，and the widowed land，whose harvest had been reaped，lay silent.

Suddenly a boy's shrill voice rose into the sky. He traversed the dark unseen，leaving the track of his song across the hush of the evening.

His village home lay there at the end of the waste land，beyond the sugar-cane field，hidden among the shadows of the banana and the slender areca-palm，the coconut and the dark green jack-fruit trees.

I stopped for a moment in my lonely way under the starlight，and saw spread before me the darkened earth surrounding with her arms countless homes furnished with cradles and beds，mothers'hearts and evening lamps，and young lives glad with a gladness that knows nothing of its value for the world.

嬰兒之道

只要嬰兒愿意，此刻他便可飛上天堂。

他之所以不離開我們，并非沒有緣由。

他喜歡把頭倚靠在媽媽的懷中，哪怕一刻沒見到她也是不行的。

嬰兒知道所有智慧的語言，雖然世間很少有人能知曉其含義。

他之所以不愿意說話，并非沒有緣由。

他想做的事，就是要學會從媽媽嘴里說出來的話。這就是為什么他看起來如此天真。

嬰兒有成堆的金銀珠寶，但他卻像個乞兒一樣來到這個世界。

他之所以這樣偽裝，并非沒有緣由。

這個可愛的小乞兒裸露著身體，裝作完全無助的樣子，是想乞求媽媽愛的財富。

嬰兒在纖細的新月之境，是自由自在，無所束縛的。

他放棄自由，并非沒有緣由。

他知道在媽媽心房的小小一隅里，藏有無窮的歡樂，被摟在媽媽愛的臂彎里，其甜蜜遠勝于自由。

嬰兒永不懂如何啼哭。他住在極為幸福的國度里。

他之所以要流淚，并非沒有緣由。

雖然他那可愛的小臉兒的微笑，系著媽媽熱切的心，然而他因小小麻煩而發出的啜泣，卻編織成了憐與愛的雙重牽絆。

Baby's Way

If baby only wanted to，he could fly up to heaven this moment.

It is not for nothing that he does not leave us.

He loves to rest his head on mother's bosom，and cannot ever bear to lose sight of her.

Baby knows all manner of wise words，though few on earth can understand their meaning.

It is not for nothing that he never wants to speak.

The one thing he wants is to learn mother's words from mother's lips. That is why he looks so innocent.

Baby had a heap of gold and pearls，yet he came like a beggar on to this earth.

It is not for nothing he came in such a disguise.

This dear little naked mendicant pretends to be utterly helpless，so that he may beg for mother's wealth of love.

Baby was so free from every tie in the land of the tiny crescent moon.It was not for nothing he gave up his freedom.

He knows that there is room for endless joy in mother's little corner of a heart，and it is sweeter far than liberty to be caught and pressed in her dear arms.

Baby never knew how to cry. He dwelt in the land of perfect bliss.

It is not for nothing he has chosen to shed tears.

Though with the smile of his dear face he draws mother's yearning heart to him，yet his little cries over tiny troubles weave the double bond of pity and love.

開始

“我是從哪里來的，你在哪里把我撿來的？”孩子問他的媽媽。

她把孩子緊緊地摟在胸前，半哭半笑地回答道：

“你曾經是我藏在心底的心愿，我的寶貝。

“你曾藏在我小時候玩的泥娃娃身上；每天早晨我用泥土塑造我的神像，那時我塑造完又捏碎的就是你。

“你曾同我們家的守護神一同受到祀奉，我敬拜家神時也就敬拜了你。

“你曾活在我一切的希望和愛里，活在我的生命里，活在我母親的生命里。

“在主宰著我們家庭的不滅精神之膝上，你已經被撫育好幾代了。

“當我在女孩時代時，我的心如花瓣兒張開，你就像那一股散發出的花香。

“你的輕軟溫柔在我青春的肢體上開花了，像一道曙光在太陽出來之前劃過天空。

“天堂里的第一個寵兒與晨曦一同降臨，你沿著世界生命的溪流浮泛而下，終于停泊在我的心頭。

“當我凝視你的臉蛋兒時，神秘感震撼著我，原屬于一切的你，竟成了我的。

“因為怕失去你，我把你緊緊地摟在懷里。是什么魔術把這世界的寶貝牽引到我這纖細的臂膀中來的呢？”

The Beginning

“Where have I come from，where did you pick me up？”the baby asked its mother.

She answered half crying，half laughing，and clasping the baby to her breast.

“You were hidden in my heart as its desire，my darling.

You were in the dolls of my childhood's games；and when with clay I made the image of my god every morning，I made and unmade you then.

You were enshrined with our household deity，in his worship I worshipped you.

In all my hopes and my loves，in my life，in the life of my mother you have lived.

In the lap of the deathless spirit who rules our home you have been nursed for ages.

When in girlhood my heart was opening its petals，you hovered as a fragrance about it.

Your tender softness bloomed in my youthful limbs，like a glow in the sky before the sunrise.

Heaven's first darling，twin-born with the morning light，you have floated down the stream of the world's life and at last you have stranded on my heart.

As I gaze on your face，mystery overwhelms me；you who belong to all have become mine.

For fear of losing you I hold you tight to my breast. What magic has snared the world's treasure in these slender arms of mine？”

孩子的世界

我愿我能在我孩子自己的世界中占一方凈土。

我知道繁星會對他私語，天空也會在他面前垂下，用它傻傻的云朵和彩虹來逗弄他。

那些讓人以為是啞巴的和看起來永不會動彈的人，都帶著他們的故事和滿是五彩繽紛的玩具托盤，匍匐地爬到他的窗前。

我愿我能在穿越孩子心靈的道路上旅行，擺脫一切的束縛；

在那兒，使者徒然奔走于沒有歷史的王國君主間；

在那兒，理智把她的法則當作紙鳶而放飛，真理也會使事實擺脫羈絆，得以自由。

Baby's World

I wish I could take a quiet corner in the heart of my baby's very own world.

I know it has stars that talk to him，and a sky that stoops down to his face to amuse him with its silly clouds and rainbows.

Those who make believe to be dumb，and look as if they never could move，come creeping to his window with their stories and with trays crowded with bright toys.

I wish I could travel by the road that crosses baby's mind，and out beyond all bounds；

Where messengers run errands for no cause between the kingdoms of kings of no history；

Where Reason makes kites of the laws and flies them，and Truth sets Fact free from its fetters.

責備

為什么你的眼中有淚水，我的孩子？

他們是多么可惡，常常無故責備你？

你寫字時墨水玷污了小手和小臉——這就是他們罵你骯臟的原因么？

呸，他們也敢罵滿月骯臟嗎，因為墨水也弄臟了它的臉？

他們總是為每一件小事去責備你，我的孩子，他們總是平白無故地尋人錯處。

你在玩耍時不小心扯破了衣服——這就是他們說你邋遢的原因么？

呸，那從破碎的云翳中露出微笑的秋之晨，那么，他們要怎么說它呢？

別去理睬他們對你說什么，我的孩子。

他們把你的錯誤行徑羅列了一長串。

誰都知道你十分鐘情于糖果——這就是他們說你貪婪的原因么？

呸，那我們如此喜愛你，那么，他們要怎么說我們呢？

Defamation

Why are those tears in your eyes，my child？

How horrid of them to be always scolding you for nothing？

You have stained your fingers and face with ink while writing—is that why they call you dirty？

O，fie！Would they dare to call the full moon dirty because it has smudged its face with ink？

For every little trifle they blame you，my child. They are ready to find fault for nothing.

You tore your clothes while playing—is that why they call you untidy？

O，fie！What would they call an autumn morning that smiles through its ragged clouds？

Take no heed of what they say to you，my child.

They make a long list of your misdeeds.

Everybody knows how you love sweet things—is that why they call you greedy？

O，fie！What then would they call us who love you？

法官

你想說他什么就盡情地說罷，但我了解我孩子的不足。

我愛他不是因為他好，只是因為他是我的小寶貝。

如果你只是衡量他的優缺點，你怎會明白他有多么的可愛？

當我必須責罰他時，他更成為我生命中的一部分了。

當我讓他流淚時，我的心也同他一起哭泣。

唯有我才有權去責罰他，因為只有深愛他的人才可以懲戒他。

The Judge

Say of him what you please，but I know my child's failings.

I do not love him because he is good，but because he is my little child.

How should you know how dear he can be when you try to weigh his merits against his faults？

When I must punish him he becomes all the more a part of my being.

When I cause his tears to come my heart weeps with him.

I alone have a right to blame and punish，for he only may chastise who loves.

玩具

孩子，整個清早你都那么快活地坐在泥土里，玩耍著折斷的小樹枝兒。

我微笑著看你在那玩那根折斷的小樹枝兒。

我正忙著算賬，一小時一小時地加疊著數字。

也許你瞥了我一眼，想：“這種無聊的游戲，竟毀了你整個早晨！”

孩子，我已忘了一心一意玩樹枝兒與泥餅的方法了。

我尋求貴重的玩具，收集大量的金銀。

無論找到什么，你總能創造出使你快樂的游戲，而我卻把自己的時間和精力都消磨在我永遠無法得到的東西上。

在我單薄的獨木舟里，我掙扎著要駛過欲望之海，竟忘了原來自己也在其中游戲。

Playthings

Child，how happy you are sitting in the dust，playing with a broken twig all the morning.

I smile at your play with that little bit of a broken twig.

I am busy with my accounts，adding up figures by the hour.

Perhaps you glance at me and think，“What a stupid game to spoil your morning with！”

Child，I have forgotten the art of being absorbed in sticks and mudpies.

I seek out costly playthings，and gather lumps of gold and silver.

With whatever you find you create your glad games，I spend both my time and my strength over things I can never obtain.

In my frail canoe I struggle to cross the sea of desire，and forget that I too am playing a game in it.

天文學家

我只不過說：“當黃昏，圓圓的滿月纏繞在曇花枝頭時，難道無人能捉得住它嗎？”

哥哥卻笑著對我說：“孩子呀，你真是我所見過的最傻的孩子。月亮離我們如此遠，誰能捉得住它呢？”

我說：“哥哥，你才傻呢！當媽媽向窗外探望，微笑地俯視我們嬉戲時，你能說她與我們相距甚遠嗎？”

哥哥依舊說：“你這個傻孩子！可是，孩子啊，你到哪里去找到一張大得足以捉住月亮的網呢？”

我說：“你肯定可以用雙手去捉住它呀。”

但是哥哥還是笑著說：“你真是我所見過的最傻的孩子！如果月亮近了，你便會知道它有多大了。”

我說：“哥哥，你們學校里所教的真是一派胡言！當媽媽俯下臉親吻我們時，她的臉看起來很大嗎？”

但哥哥還是說：“你真是個傻孩子。”

The Astronomer

I only said，“When in the evening the round full moon gets entangled among the branches of that Kadam tree，couldn't somebody catch it？”

But dada laughed at me and said，“Baby，you are the silliest child I have ever known. The moon is ever so far from us，how could anybody catch it？”

I said，“Dada how foofish you are！When mother looks out of her window and smiles down at us playing，would you call her far away？”

Still dada said，“You are a stupid child！But，baby，where could you find a net big enough to catch the moon with？”

I said，“Surely you could catch it with your hands.”

But dada laughed and said，“You are the silliest child I have known. If it came nearer，you would see how big the moon is.”

I said，“Dada，what nonsense they teach at your school！When mother bends her face down to kiss us does her face look very big？”

But still dada says，“You are a stupid child.”

雨天

喔，孩子，別出去！

湖邊一排棕櫚樹，正把頭撞向陰沉的天空；羽毛凌亂的烏鴉，悄然棲息在羅望子的枝上，河流的東岸縈繞著濃濃的憂郁。

我們的牛拴在籬笆上正高聲鳴叫著。

喔，孩子，就在這里等著，等我把牛牽進棚里。

許多人都擠在清水流溢的田間，捉那些從溢出的池水中溜出來的魚兒；

雨水漲成了溪流，從狹小的巷子淌過，像一個嬉鬧的孩子從他媽媽那兒跑開，故意要惹怒她似的。

聽呀，有人在渡口喊船夫呢。

喔，孩子，天色昏暗，渡口的渡船已經停泊。

天空像疾馳在滂沱的雨中；河水暴躁地喧囂著；

女人們早已從恒河河畔汲滿了水，帶著水罐匆匆歸家。

夜用的燈，一定要準備好。

喔，孩子，別出去！

去市場的大道已無人行走，去河邊的小徑亦很滑。

風在竹林里咆哮掙扎著，酷似一只落入陷阱的野獸。

The Rainy Day

O child，do not go out！

The palm trees in a row by the lake are smiting their heads against the dismal sky；the crows with their draggled wings are silent on the tamarind branches，and the eastern back of the river is haunted by deepening gloom.

Our cow is owing loud，tied at the fence.

O child，wait here till I bring her into the stall.

Men have crowed into flooded field to catch the fishes as they escape from the over lowing ponds；

the rain-water is running in rills through the narrow lanes like a laughing boy who has run away from his mother to tease her.

Listen，someone is shouting for the boatman at the ford.

O child，the daylight is dim，and the crossing at the ferry is closed.

The sky seems to ride fast upon the madly-rushing rain；

the water in the river is loud and impatient；

women have hastened home early from the Ganges with their filled pitchers.

The evening lamps must be made ready.

O child，do not go out！

The road to the market is desolate，the lane to the river is slippery.

The wind is roaring and struggling among the bamboo branches like a wild beast tangled in a net.

紙船

我每天把紙船一只只地放入急流中。

我在紙船上用大黑字寫著我的名字和我住的村名。

我企盼著住在異鄉的人會發現這紙船，知道我是誰。

我在小船上放了花園里長出的雪莉花，希望這些在拂曉時分開放的花兒能在夜里被平平安安地帶到岸上。

我把我的紙船投進水里，仰天長望，看見小小的云朵正揚起鼓滿了風的白帆。

我不知道，天上的哪個玩伴把這些船送下來和我的船比賽！

夜幕降臨，我的臉埋在手臂里，夢見我的紙船在午夜的星空下緩緩前浮。

睡仙坐在船里，帶著載滿了夢的籃子。

Paper Boats

Day by day I float my paper boats one by one down the running stream.

In big black letters I write my name on them and the name of the village where I live.

I hope that someone in some strange land will find them and know who I am.

I load my little boats with shiuli flowers from our garden，and hope that these blooms of the dawn will be carried safely to land in the night.

I launch my paper boats and look up into the sky and see the little clouds setting their white bulging sails.

I know not what playmate of mine in the sky sends them down the air to race with my boats！

When night comes I bury my face in my arms and dream that my paper boats float on and on under the midnight stars.

The fairies of sleep are sailing in them，and the lading is their baskets full of dreams.

花的學校

當烏云在天空轟鳴時，六月的陣雨落下來。

濕潤的東風從荒野掠過，在竹林間奏響它的風笛。

忽然，成簇的花朵從無人知曉的地方跑來，在綠草上跳舞狂歡。

媽媽，我真的認為那成簇的花是在地下的學校里上學。

他們關門閉戶地做功課，如果他們想在放學之前出來玩耍，老師是要罰他們站墻角的。

一下雨，他們便放假了。

樹枝在林中交錯，葉子在狂風中簌簌作響，雷雨云拍著巨手，小花兒們就在那時身穿粉的、黃的、白的衣裳，沖了出來。

你可知道，媽媽，他們的家是在天上，在星星居住的地方。

你沒有看見他們怎樣地急著要去那兒？你難道不知道他們為何那樣匆忙嗎？

當然，我能夠猜出他們的雙臂是為誰而張開：他們也有他們自己的媽媽，就像我有自己的媽媽一樣。

The Flower-school

When storm clouds ramble in the sky and June showers come down.

The moist east wind comes marching over the heath to blow its bagpipes among the bamboos.

Then crowds of flowers come out of a sudden，from nobody knows where，and dance upon the grass in wild glee.

Mother，I really think the flowers go to school underground.

They do their lessons with doors shut，and if they want to come out to play before it is time，their master makes them stand in a corner.

When the rains come they have their holidays.

Branches clash together in the forest，and the leaves rustle in the wild wind，the thunder-clouds clap their giant hands and the flower children rush out in dresses of pink and yellow and white.

Do you know，mother，their home is in the sky，where the stars are.

Haven't you seen how eager they are to get there？Don't you know why they are in such a hurry？

Of course，I can guess to whom they raise their arms：they have their mother as I have my own.

商人

媽媽，想象一下，你待在家里，我要去異鄉旅行。

再想象，我的船已在碼頭等候啟碇，船上滿載貨物。

現在，媽媽，好好想一想再告訴我，回來時我要為你帶些什么。

媽媽，你想要成堆的黃金嗎？

那么，在黃金河的兩岸，田野里滿是金黃色的稻谷。

在林蔭道上，香柏花一朵朵地飄落在地上。

我將為你而收集它們，放進數以百計的籃子里。

媽媽，你想要如秋天雨點般大的珍珠嗎？

我將渡到珍珠島的海岸上去。

在那里的晨曦，珍珠在草地的花朵上顫抖，落在綠草地上，被狂野的海浪一把一把地撒在沙灘上。

我將送哥哥一匹帶翼的馬，能在云端翱翔。

我要送爸爸一枝有魔力的筆，在他還未察覺時，就能寫出字來。

你呢，媽媽，我一定要把那個價值七個王國的首飾盒和珠寶送給你。

The Merchant

Imagine，mother，that you are to stay at home and I am to travel into strange lands.

Imagine that my boat is ready at the landing fully laden.

Now think well，mother，before you say what I shall bring for you when I come back.

Mother，do you want heaps and heaps of gold？

There，by the banks of golden streams，fields are full of golden harvest.

And in the shade of the forest path the golden champa flowers drop on the ground.

I will gather them all for you in many hundred baskets.

Mother，do you want pearls big as the raindrops of autumn？

I shall cross to the pearl island shore.

There in the early morning light pearls tremble on the meadow flowers，pearls drop on the grass，and pearls are scattered on the sand in spray by the wild sea-waves.

My brother shall have a pair of horses with wings to fly among the clouds.

For father I shall bring a magic pen that，without his knowing，will write of itself.

For you，mother，I must have the casket and jewel that cost seven kings their kingdoms.

同情

如果我只是一只小狗，而不是你的小孩，親愛的媽媽，當我想吃你盤里的東西時，你會不會對我說“不”？

你是不是會把我趕開，對我說“滾開，你這淘氣的小狗”？

那么走吧，媽媽，走吧！當你呼喚我時，我再也不到你那里去了，也永遠不再要你喂東西給我吃了。

如果我只是一只綠色的小鸚鵡，而不是你的小孩，親愛的媽媽，你會不會把我緊緊地鎖住，怕我飛走？

你是不是會對我指指點點地說“真是一個不領情的賤鳥呀！整天整夜盡知道啄它的鏈子”？

那么走吧，媽媽，走吧！我要跑到樹林里去，我決不再讓你把我抱在懷中了。

Sympathy

If I were only a little puppy，not your baby，dear mother，would you say “No”to me if I tried to eat from your dish？

Would you drive me off，saying to me，“Get away，you naughty little puppy？”

Then go，mother，go！I will never come to you when you call me，and never let you feed me any more.

If I were only a little green parrot，and not your baby，mother dear，would you keep me chained lest I should fly away？

Would you shake your finger at me and say，“What an ungrateful wretch of a bird！It is gnawing at its chain day and night？”

Then，go，mother，go！I will run away into the woods，I will never let you take me in your arms again.

職業

清晨的鐘敲至十下時，我沿著我們的小巷到學校去。

我每天都遇見那個小販，他叫著：“手鐲呀，亮晶晶的手鐲！”

他沒有什么事要急著去做，沒有哪條街道非去不可，也沒有哪個時辰一定要回家。

我希望自己是一個小販，整天在街上混日子，叫著：“手鐲呀，亮晶晶的手鐲！”

下午四點，我放學回家。

我從一家門口看見一個園丁在那里掘土。

他用他的鋤子，想怎么挖，便怎么挖，他的衣服落上了塵土，如果他被太陽曬黑或是被雨淋濕了，不會有人罵他。

我希望自己是一個園丁，在花園里掘土，誰也不會來阻止我。

天一黑，媽媽就送我上床睡覺。

我從敞開的窗口看見更夫來回走動著。

小巷漆黑冷清，路燈就像一個臉上長著一只紅眼睛的巨人立在那里。

更夫搖著他的燈籠，他的影子隨之一起移動，他一生從未上床歇息過。

我希望自己是一個更夫，整夜在街上行走著，提了燈籠去追逐影子。

Vocation

When the gong sounds ten in the morning and I walk to school by our lane.

Every day I meet the hawker crying，“Bangles，crystal bangles！”

There is nothing to hurry him on，there is no road he must take，no place he must go to，no time when he must come home.

I wish I were a hawker，spending my day in the road，crying，“Bangles，crystal bangles！”

When at four in the afternoon I come back from the school.

I can see through the gate of that house the gardener digging the ground.

He does what he likes with his spade，he soils his clothes with dust，nobody takes him to task if he gets baked in the sun or gets wet.

I wish I were a gardener digging away at the garden with nobody to stop me from digging.

Just as it gets dark in the evening and my mother sends me to bed.

I can see through my open window the watchman walking up and down.

The lane is dark and lonely，and the street-lamp stands like a giant with one red eye in its head.

The watchman swings his lantern and walks with his shadow at his side，and never once goes to bed in his life.

I wish I were a watchman walking the streets all night，chasing the shadows with my lantern.

小大人

我人很小，因為我是一個小孩，到了像我爸爸一樣的年紀時，我便會變大了。

我的老師要是走過來說：“時候不早了，去把你的石板和書拿來。”

我將告訴他：“你難道不知道我已經有爸爸那么大了嗎？我再也不做什么功課了。”

我的老師將驚訝地說：“他不愛讀書就不讀書，因為他是大人了。”

我給自己穿好衣裳，走到人群擁擠的集市里去。

我的叔叔要是跑來說：“你會迷路的，我的孩子；讓我牽著你吧。”

我將會回答：“你沒看見嗎，叔叔，我已經有爸爸那么大了，我決定一個人去集市。”

叔叔將會說：“是的，他愛去哪兒就去哪兒，因為他是大人了。”

媽媽從沐浴處歸來時，我正拿錢給我的保姆，因為我知道怎樣用我的鑰匙去開啟錢箱。

媽媽會問：“你在做什么，淘氣的孩子？”

我將會告訴她：“媽媽，你難道不知道我已經有爸爸那么大了嗎？我得拿錢給保姆。”

媽媽將自言自語地說：“他愛把錢給誰就給誰，因為他是大人了。”

在十月的假期里，爸爸將要回家，他以為我還是個小孩，從城里為我帶了小鞋子和小綢衫。

我會說：“爸爸，把這些東西給哥哥吧，因為我已經有你那么大了。”

爸爸將會想一下，然后說：“他愛給自己買衣衫就去買，因為他是大人了。”

The Little Big Man

I am small because I am a little child. I shall be big when I am as old as my father is.

My teacher will come and say，“It is late，bring your slate and your books.”

I shall tell him，“Do you not know I am as big as father？And I must not have lessons any more.”

My master will wonder and say，“He can leave his books if he likes，for he is grown up.”

I shall dress myself and walk to the fair where the crowd is thick.

My uncle will come rushing up to me and say，“You will get lost，my boy；let me carry you.”

I shall answer，“Can't you see，uncle，I am as big as father I must go to the fair alone.”

Uncle will say，“Yes，he can go wherever he likes，for he is grown up.”

Mother will come from her bath when I am giving money to my nurse，for I shall know how to open the box with my key.

Mother will say，“What are you about，naughty child？”

I shall tell her，“Mother，don't you know，I am as big as father，and I must give silver to my nurse.”

Mother will say to herself，“He can give money to whom he likes，for he is grown up.”

In the holiday time in October father will come home and，thinking that I am still a baby，will bring for me from the town little shoes and small silken frocks.

I shall say，“Father，give them to my dada，for I am as big as you are.”

Father will think and say，“He can buy his own clothes if he likes，for he is grown up.”

十二點鐘

媽媽，我現在真不想做功課。我已經讀了整個上午的書了。

你說，現在才十二點鐘。就算現在沒有超過十二點罷，難道你就不能把剛剛十二點想成下午嗎？

我可以很容易地想象出：此刻，太陽已經照到那片稻田的邊緣了，那個老態龍鐘的漁婦正在池邊采擷草葉作為她的晚餐。

我一閉上眼就想得到，馬塔爾樹下的陰影愈發深邃了，池塘里的水看起來黝黑發亮。

假如十二點鐘能在夜晚降臨，為什么黑夜不能在十二點鐘的時候到來呢？

The Twelve O'clock

Mother，I do want to leave off my lessons now. I have been at my book all the morning.

You say it is only twelve o'clock. Suppose it isn't any later；can't you ever think it is afternoon when it is only twelve o'clock？

I can easily imagine now that the sun has reached the edge of that rice field，and the old fisher-woman is gathering herbs for her supper by the side of the pond.

I can just shut my eyes and think that the shadows are growing darker under the madar tree，and the water in the pond looks shiny black.

If twelve o'clock can come in the night，why can't the night come when it is twelve o'clock？

結束

是我離開的時候了，媽媽，我走了。

當清晨孤寂的破曉時分，你在幽暗中伸出雙臂，想抱起你睡在床上的孩子時，

我要說：“孩子不在那里了呀！”——媽媽，我走了。

我將化為一縷清風愛撫著你；

我將化為串串漣漪，當你沐浴時，把你吻了又吻。

在大風之夜，當雨點在樹葉上滴答作響時，

你在床上會聽到我的私語，當電光從開著的窗口閃進你的屋里時，我的笑聲也隨之一同閃現。

如果你清醒地躺在床上，在深夜仍想著你的孩子，

我便會在星空對你吟唱：“睡呀！媽媽，睡呀。”

乘著四處游移的月光，我偷偷地來到你床上，趁你睡著時，躺入你懷中。

我要變成一個夢，從你眼皮的微縫中，滑入你的睡眠深處；當你醒來，驚奇地張望時，我就像一只熠熠閃光的螢火蟲，向黑暗中飛去了。

普耶節時，當鄰居的孩子們來屋里游玩時，

我便會融合在笛聲里，終日蕩漾在你心頭。

親愛的阿姨帶了普耶禮來，她會問：

“我們的孩子在哪里，姐姐？”

媽媽，你將要溫柔地告訴她：

“他此刻在我的眼眸里，在我的身體里，在我的靈魂里。”

The End

It is time for me to go，mother；I am going.

When in the paling darkness of the lonely dawn you stretch out your arms for your baby in the bed，

I shall say，“Baby is not there！”—mother，I am going，

I shall become a delicate draught of air and caress you；and I shall be ripples in the water when you bathe，and kiss you and kiss you again.

In the gusty night when the rain patters on the leaves you will hear my whisper in your bed，and my laughter will flash with the lightning through the open window into your room.

If you lie awake，thinking of your baby till late into the night，

I shall sing to you from the stars，“Sleep！mother，sleep.”

On the straying moonbeams I shall steal over your bed，and lie upon your bosom while you sleep.

I shall become a dream，and through the little opening of your eyelids I shall slip into the depths of your sleep；and when you wake up and look round startled，like a twinkling firefly I shall flit out into the darkness.

When，on the great festival of puja，the neighbours' children come and play about the house.

I shall melt into the music of the flute and throb in your heart all day.

Dear auntie will come with puja-presents and will ask，

“Where is our baby，sister？”Mother，you will tell her softly，

“He is in the pupils of my eyes，he is in my body and in my soul.”

呼喚

她離開的時候，夜漆黑一片，他們都睡去了。

現在，夜也漆黑，我呼喚著她：

“回來，我的寶貝；世界在沉睡；當繁星相互凝望時，你回來一會兒是無人知曉的。”

她離開的時候，草木吐芽，春意正濃。

現在，花兒正怒放，我呼喚著：“回來，我的寶貝。孩子們肆無忌憚地在游戲中把花兒聚散離合，你若回來，帶走一朵小花，沒有人會察覺到的。”

那些常常嬉戲的人，仍舊在那里玩，生命就這樣被荒廢掉了。

我聆聽著他們的空談，呼喚著：“回來，我的寶貝。媽媽的心里充溢著愛，你若回來，僅僅從她那里取得一個小小的吻，沒有人會妒忌的。”

The Recall

The night was dark when she went away，and they slept.

The night is dark now，and I call for her，

“Come back，my darling；the world is asleep；and no one would know，if you came for a moment while stars are gazing at stars.”

She went away when the trees were in bud and the spring was young.

Now the flowers are in high bloom and I call，“Come back，my darling.The children gather and scatter flowers in reckless sport. And if you come and take one little blossom no one will miss it.”

Those that used to play are playing still，so spendthrift is life.

I listen to their chatter and call，“Come back，my darling，for mother's heart is full to the brim with love，and if you come to snatch only one little kiss from her no one will grudge it.”

榕樹

喂，你，立在池邊的枝葉蓬亂的榕樹，你是否已經將那個小孩遺忘了，那宛如曾在你枝頭筑巢，而又離你而去的鳥兒似的小孩？

你是否還記得他是怎樣坐在窗前，詫異地望著你那盤繞在地下的樹根？

女人們常到池邊汲了滿滿一罐子水，于是，你巨大的黑影在水面上蕩漾，宛如沉睡的人要掙扎著醒過來一樣。

陽光在微波上舞動，好似片刻也不停息的梭子在編織著金黃的花氈。

兩只鴨子在蘆葦邊游蕩，在蘆葦影子上面搖晃，孩子靜靜地坐在那里沉思。

他想變成風，吹過你蕭蕭的枝丫；想變成你的影子，隨了陽光在水面上消長；想成為一只鳥兒，棲息在你最高的枝頭上；還想變成那兩只鴨，在蘆葦與影子中穿梭。

The Banyan Tree

O you shaggy-headed banyan tree standing on the bank of the pond，have you forgotten the little child，like the birds that have nested in your branches and left you？

Do you not remember how he sat at the window and wondered at the tangle of your roots that plunged underground？

The women would come to fill their jars in the pond，and your huge black shadow would wriggle on the water like sleep struggling to wake up.

Sunlight danced on the ripples like restless tiny shuttles weaving golden tapestry.

Two ducks swam by weedy margin above their shadows，and the child would sit still and think.

He longed to be the wind and blow through your rustling branches，to be your shadow and lengthen with the day on the water，to be a bird and perch on your topmost twig，and to float like those ducks among the weeds and shadows.

祝福

祝福這顆小小的心靈，這個圣潔的靈魂，他為我們的大地，贏得了上天的親吻。

他愛陽光，他愛看媽媽的臉。

他還未學會鄙夷塵埃而渴求黃金。

將他緊抱在你的心里，并且祝福他。

他已來到這個歧路百出的大地上了。

我不知道他怎樣從人群中把你挑選出來，來到你的門前握住你的手問路。

他緊緊追隨著你，說著，笑著，沒有一絲疑心。

不要辜負了他的信任，引導他到正路，并且祝福他。

把你的手輕輕放在他的頭上，祈禱著：雖然下面波濤洶涌，然而從上面來的風，會揚起他的船帆，送他至平安的港口。

不要在忙碌中將他遺忘，讓他來到你的心里，并且祝福他。

Benediction

Bless this little heart，this white soul that has won the kiss of heaven for our earth.

He loves the light of the sun，he loves the sight of his mother's face.

He has not learned to despise the dust，and to hanker after gold.

Clasp him to your heart and bless him.

He has come into this land of an hundred crossroads.

I know not how he chose you from the crowd，came to your door，and grasped your hand to ask his way.

He will follow you，laughing and talking，and not a doubt in his heart.

Keep his trust，lead him straight and bless him.

Lay your hand on his head，and pray that though the waves underneath grow threatening，yet the breath from above may come and fill his sails and waft him to the haven of peace.

Forget him not in your hurry，let him come to your heart and bless him.

禮物

我想送些東西給你，我的孩子，因為我們同在世界的溪流中漂泊。

我們的生命會被分開，我們的愛也會被遺忘。

但我卻沒傻到那分上，希望能用我的禮物來收買你的心。

你正值生命的青春期，你的路還很漫長，你一口氣飲盡了我們給你的愛，就轉過身，頭也不回地離我們而去了。

你有你的游戲、你的玩伴。如果你沒有時間和我們在一起，或者你不曾想到我們，那又有什么傷害呢？

在我們年老時，自然會有許多閑暇時間，去細數那往昔的時光，把從我們手中永久失去的東西，放在心里好好珍藏。

河水歌唱著奔流而去，沖破所有的堤防。然而山峰卻將憶念留在那里，依依不舍地與她相隨。

The Gift

I want to give you something，my child，for we are drifting in the stream of the world.

Our lives will be carried apart，and our love forgotten.

But I am not so foolish as to hope that I could buy your heart with my gifts.

Young is your life，your path long，and you drink the love we bring you at one draught and turn and run away from us.

You have your play and your playmates. What harm is there if you have no time or thought for us？

We，indeed，have leisure enough in old age to count the days that are past，to cherish in our hearts what our hands have lost for ever.

The river runs swift with a song，breaking through all barriers. But the mountain stays and remembers，and follows her with his love.

我的歌

我的孩子，我這支歌將揚起它悠揚的樂聲縈繞在你的身旁，如同那熾熱的愛之臂膀。

我這支歌將撫摸著你的前額，如同那祝福的親吻一般。

當你獨處時，它將坐在你身旁，在你耳邊私語；當你在人群中，它會將你圍繞，使你遠離塵囂。

我的歌將成為你夢想的羽翼，它將載著你的心移送到那未知的邊緣。

當黑夜覆蓋了你的路時，它又將成為照耀你頭頂的忠實星光。

我的歌將佇立在你瞳孔里，將你的視線植入萬物心中。

當我的聲音因死亡而沉寂時，我的歌仍會在你年輕活潑的心中吟唱。

My Song

This song of mine will wind its music around you，my child，like the fond arms of love.

This song of mine will touch your forehead like a kiss of blessing.

When you are alone it will sit by your side and whisper in your ear，when you are in the crowd it will fence you about with aloofness.

My song will be like a pair of wings to your dreams，it will transport your heart to the verge of the unknown.

It will be like the faithful star overhead when dark night is over your road.

My song will sit in the pupils of your eyes，and will carry your sight into the heart of things.

And when my voice is silent in death，my song will speak in your living heart.

小小天使

他們喧嘩爭吵，他們猜疑失望，他們爭辯著卻終無結果。

讓你的生命融入他們中吧，我的孩子，就像一線鎮定而圣潔的光芒，使他們歡悅而靜謐。

他們的貪婪和嫉妒是殘酷的；他們的言語，似暗藏的刀，渴欲飲血。

去，站在他們憤懣的心中，我的孩子，把你那和善的目光投到他們身上，好像那夜晚寬容的和平遮蔽了白日的紛擾一樣。

我的孩子，讓他們看看你的臉，因此他們明白了萬物的意義；讓他們愛你，因此他們能夠相愛。

來，坐在無垠的懷抱里，我的孩子。日出時，敞開并抬起你的心，像一朵盛開的花兒；夕陽西下時，低下你的頭，默默地完成這一天的膜拜。

The Child-Angel

They clamour and fight，they doubt and despair，they know no end to their wranglings.

Let your life come amongst them like a flame of light，my child，unflickering and pure，and delight them into silence.

They are cruel in their greed and their envy，their words are like hidden knives thirsting for blood.

Go and stand amidst their scowling hearts，my child，and let your gentle eyes fall upon them like the forgiving peace of the evening over the strife of the day.

Let them see your face，my child，and thus know the meaning of all things；let them love you and thus love each other.

Come and take your seat in the bosom of the limitless，my child. At sunrise open and raise your heart like a blossoming flower，and at sunset bend your head and in silence complete the worship of the day.

最后的交易

清晨，我走在石鋪的路上，叫著：“來雇用我呀！”

國王手執利劍乘著馬車駕臨。

他抓住我的手說道：“我用權勢雇用你。”

但是他的權勢一文不值，于是，他乘著馬車離去了。

炎熱的正午，家家都關門閉戶。

我沿著蜿蜒的小巷漫游。

一位老者帶了一袋黃金走出來。

他斟酌了一下，說：“我用金錢來雇用你。”

他一個一個地細數著他的金幣，我卻轉身離去了。

黃昏，花園的籬笆上繁花似錦。

漂亮的姑娘走出來，說：“我要用微笑來雇用你。”

她的笑容黯淡，在淚痕中消匿，她孤寂地轉身走回黑暗里去。

陽光照在沙灘上，海浪肆意地潑濺浪花。

一個孩子坐在那里玩著貝殼。

他抬起頭，好像與我相識一樣，說：“我雇用你，什么都不用。”

從今往后，在這個孩子的游戲中完成的交易，讓我成了一個自由的人。

The Last Bargain

“Come and hire me！”I cried，while in the morning I was walking on the stone-paved road.

Sword in hand，the King came in his chariot.

He held my hand and said，“I will hire you with my power.”

But his power counted for nought，and he went away in his chariot.

In the heat of the midday the houses stood with shut doors.

I wandered along the crooked lane.

An old man came out with his bag of gold.

He pondered and said，“I will hire you with my money.”

He weighed his coins one by one，but I turned away.

It was evening. The garden hedge was all a flower.

The fair maid came out and said，“I hire you with a smile.”

Her smile paled and melted into tears，and she went back alone into the dark.

The sun glistened on the sand，and the sea waves broke waywardly.

A child sat playing with shells.

He raised his head and seemed to know me，and said，“I hire you with nothing.”

From thence forward that bargain struck in child's play made me a free man.