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.
云与浪
母亲，那些住在云端的人对我喊道——
“我们从早晨醒来玩到天黑。我们与金色的曙光嬉戏，我们与皎洁的月亮嬉戏。”
我问：“但是，我怎样才能到你那里呢？”
他们回答说：“你到大地的边缘来，对着天空举起双手，就会被接上云端。”
“我妈妈在家里等我呢，”我说，“我怎能离她而去呢？”
于是他们微笑着飘走了。
但是，母亲，我知道一个比这个更好玩的游戏。
我做云，你做月亮。
我用双手遮住你，我们的屋顶就是湛蓝的天空。
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.