The Crescent Moon 18: The Rainy Day

The Rainy Day

Sullen clouds are gathering fast over the black fringe of the forest.
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 bank of the river is haunted by a deepening gloom.
Our cow is lowing loud, tied at the fence.
O child, wait here till I bring her into the stall.
Men have crowded into the flooded field to catch the fishes as they escape from the overflowing 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.

Original author: Rabindranath Tagore.

雨天

乌云很快地集拢在森林的黝黑的边缘上。
孩子，不要出去呀！
湖边的一行棕树，向暝暗的天空撞着头；羽毛零乱的乌鸦，静悄悄地栖在罗望子的枝上，河的东岸正被乌沉沉的暝色所侵袭。
我们的牛系在篱上，高声鸣叫。
孩子，在这里等着，等我先把牛牵进牛棚里去。
许多人都挤在池水泛溢的田间，捉那从泛溢的池中逃出来的鱼儿，雨水成了小河，流过狭街，好像一个嬉笑的孩子从他妈妈那里跑开，故意要恼她一样。
听呀，有人在浅滩上喊船夫呢。
孩子，天色暝暗了，渡头的摆渡船已经停了。
天空好像是在滂沱的雨上快跑着；河里的水喧叫而且暴躁；妇人们早已拿着汲满了水的水罐，从恒河畔匆匆地回家了。
夜里用的灯，一定要预备好。
孩子，不要出去呀！
到市场去的大道已没有人走，到河边去的小路又很滑。
风在竹林里咆哮着，挣扎着，好像一只落在网中的野兽。

原作者：Rabindranath Tagore。中文译者：郑振铎。