13

I asked nothing, only stood at the edge of the wood behind the tree.

Languor was still upon the eyes of the dawn, and the dew in the air.

The lazy smell of the damp grass hung in the thin mist above the earth.

Under the banyan tree you were milking the cow with your hands, tender and fresh as butter.

And I was standing still.

I did not say a word. It was the bird that sang unseen from the thicket.

The mango tree was shedding its flowers upon the village road, and the bees came humming one by one.

On the side of the pond the gate of Shiva's temple was open and the worshipper had begun his chants.

With the vessel on your lap you were milking the cow.

我別無所求，只站在林邊樹后。

倦意還逗留在黎明的眼中，露水在空氣里。

濕草的懶味懸垂在地面的薄霧中。

在榕樹下，你用奶油般嫩鮮的手擠著牛奶。

我沉靜地站著。

我一言不發。那是藏起的鳥兒在密葉中的歌唱。

芒果樹在鄉村公路上撒著繁花，蜜蜂一只一只嗡嗡地飛來。

池塘邊的濕婆神廟的門是開著的，朝拜者開始吟誦。

你把罐兒放在膝上擠著牛奶。

I stood with my empty can.

I did not come near you.

The sky woke with the sound of the gong at the temple.

The dust was raised in the road from the hoofs of the driven cattle.

With the gurgling pitchers at their hips, women came from the river.

Your bracelets were jingling, and foam brimming over the jar.

The morning wore on and I did not come near you.

我提著空桶站著。

我沒有走向你。

天空在廟里的鑼聲中醒來。

街上的塵土在驅走的牛蹄下飛揚。

把汩汩發響的水罐掛在腰上，女人們從河邊走來。

你的手鐲叮叮當當響，泡沫溢出罐沿。

晨光漸逝而我沒有走向你。