Clouds and Waves
Mother， the folk who live up in the clouds call out to me—
“We play from the time we wake till the day ends.
We play with the golden dawn， we play with the silver moon.”
I ask， “But， how am I to get up to you？”
They answer， “Come to the edge of the earth， lift up your hands to the sky， and you will be taken up into the clouds.”
“My mother is waiting for me at home，” I say. “How can I leave her and come？”
Then they smile and float away.
But I know a nicer game than that， mother. I shall be the cloud and you the moon.
I shall cover you with both my hands， and our housetop will be the blue sky.
雲與浪
母親，那些住在雲端的人對我喊道——
“我們從早晨醒來玩到天黑。我們與金色的曙光嬉戲，我們與皎潔的月亮嬉戲。”
我問：“但是，我怎樣才能到你那裏呢？”
他們回答說：“你到大地的邊緣來，對著天空舉起雙手，就會被接上雲端。”
“我媽媽在家裏等我呢，”我說，“我怎能離她而去呢？”
於是他們微笑著飄走了。
但是，母親，我知道一個比這個更好玩的遊戲。
我做雲，你做月亮。
我用雙手遮住你，我們的屋頂就是湛藍的天空。
The folk who live in the waves call out to me —
“We sing from morning till night； on and on we travel and know not where we pass.”
I ask， “But， how am I to join you？”
They tell me， “Come to the edge of the shore and stand with your eyes tight shut and you will be carried out upon the waves.”
I say， “My mother always wants me at home in the evening—how can I leave her and go？”
Then they smile， dance and pass by.
But I know a better game than that.
I will be the waves and you will be a strange shore.
I shall roll on and on， and break upon your lap with laughter.