56

I WAS one among many women busy with the obscure daily tasks of the household.

Why did you single me out and bring me away from the cool shelter of our common life?

Love unexpressed is sacred. It shines like gems in the gloom of the hidden heart. In the light of the curious day it looks pitifully dark.

Ah, you broke through the cover of my heart and dragged my trembling love into the open place, destroying for ever the shady corner where it hid its nest.

The other women are the same as ever.

No one has peeped into their inmost being, and they themselves know not their own secret.

Lightly they smile, and weep, chatter, and work. Daily they go to the temple, light their lamps, and fetch water from the river.

I hoped my love would be saved from the shivering shame of the shelterless, but you turn your face away.

Yes, your path lies open before you, but you have cut off my return, and left me stripped naked before the world with its lidless eyes staring night and day.

56

我是妇女中为平庸的日常家务而忙碌的一个。

你为什么把我挑选出来，

把我从日常生活的凉荫中带出来？

没有表现出来的爱是神圣的。

它像宝石般在隐藏的心的朦胧里放光。

在奇异的日光中，它显得可怜地晦暗。

啊，你打碎我心的盖子，

把我战栗的爱情拖到空旷的地方，

把那阴暗的藏我心巢的一角永远破坏了。

别的女人和从前一样。

没有一个人窥探到自己的最深处，

她们不知道自己的秘密。

她们轻快地微笑、哭泣、谈话、工作。

她们每天到庙里去，点上她们的灯，还到河中取水。

我希望能从无遮拦的颤羞中把我的爱情救出，

但是你掉头不顾。

是的，你的前途是远大的，但是你把我的归路切断了，

让我在世界的无睫毛的眼睛日夜瞪视之下赤裸着。