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. 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?” 于是他们微笑着浮游而去。 但是我知道一件比这个更好的游戏,妈妈。 我做云,你做月亮。 我用两只手遮盖你,我们的屋顶就是青碧的天空。 住在波浪上的人对我唤道—— “我们从早晨唱歌到晚上;我们前进又前进地旅行,也不知我们所经过的是什么地方。” 我问道:“但是,我怎么能加入你们队伍里去呢?” 他们告诉我说:“来到岸旁,站在那里,紧闭你的两眼,你就被带到波浪上来了。” 我说:“傍晚的时候,我妈妈常要我在家里——我怎么能离开她而去呢!” 于是他们微笑着,跳舞着奔流过去。 但是我知道一件比这个更好的游戏。 我是波浪,你是陌生的岸。 我奔流而进,进,进,笑哈哈地撞碎在你的膝上。 世界上就没有一个人会知道我们俩在什么地方。