39

I TRY to weave a wreath all the morning, but the flowers slip and they drop out.

You sit there watching me in secret through the corner of your prying eyes.

Ask those eyes, darkly planning mischief, whose fault it was.

I try to sing a song, but in vain.

A hidden smile trembles on your lips; ask of it the reason of my failure.

Let your smiling lips say on oath how my voice lost itself in silence like a drunken bee in the lotus.

It is evening, and the time for the flowers to close their petals.

Give me leave to sit by your side, and bid my lips to do the work that can be done in silence and in the dim light of stars.

39

整个早晨我想编一个花环，但是花儿滑掉了。

你坐在一旁偷偷地从侦伺的眼角看着我。

问这一对沉黑的恶作剧的眼睛，这是谁的错。

我想唱一支歌，但是唱不出来。

一个暗笑在你唇上颤动；

问它我失败的缘由。

让你微笑的唇儿发一个誓，

说我的歌声怎样地消失在沉默里，

像一只在荷花里沉醉的蜜蜂。

夜晚了，是花瓣合起的时候了。

容许我坐在你的旁边，

容许我的唇儿做那在沉默中、在星辰和微光中能做的工作吧。