The Crescent Moon 14: Clouds and Waves

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 house-top will be the blue sky.

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 on, and break upon your lap with laughter.
And no one in the world will know where we both are.

Original author: Rabindranath Tagore.

云与波

妈妈，住在云端的人对我唤道——
“我们从醒的时候游戏到白日终止。
“我们与黄金色的曙光游戏，我们与银白色的月亮游戏。”
我问道：“但是，我怎么能够上你那里去呢？”
他们答道：“你到地球的边上来，举手向天，就可以被接到云端里来了。”
“我妈妈在家里等我呢，”我说，“我怎么能离开她而来呢？”
于是他们微笑地浮游而去。
但是，我知道一件更好的游戏，妈妈。
我将要做云朵，你做月亮。
我将用两手遮盖你，我们的屋顶就是青天。

住在波浪中的人对我呼唤道——
“我们从早到晚地唱歌，旅行，但是我们不知道这是到什么地方去。”
我问道：“但是，我怎么能够加入你们呢？”
他们告诉我说：“来到海边站着，闭了眼睛，你就会被波浪卷了去了。”
我说：“我妈妈总想要我在黄昏时候回家去，我怎么能离开她而去呢？”
于是他们微笑着，跳舞着奔流过去。
但是，我知道一个更好的游戏。
我愿做波浪，你做陌生的岸。
我高高地、向前地、向前地滚转，我将冲撞着你的膝上而笑起来。
世界上就没有一个人会知道我们俩在什么地方了。

原作者：Rabindranath Tagore。中文译者：郑振铎。