TheCrescentMoon
拉賓德拉納特·泰戈爾/RabindranathTagore
TheHome
Ipacedaloneontheroadacrossthef?ieldwhilethesunsetwashidingitslastgoldlikeamiser.
Thedaylightsankdeeperanddeeperintothedarkness,andthewidowedland,whoseharvesthadbeenreaped,laysilent.
Suddenlyaboy』sshrillvoiceroseintothesky.Hetraversedthedarkunseen,leavingthetrackofhissongacrossthehushoftheevening.
Hisvillagehomelaythereattheendofthewasteland,beyondthesugar-canef?ield,hiddenamongtheshadowsofthebananaandtheslenderareca-palm,thecoconutandthedarkgreenjack-fruittrees.
Istoppedforamomentinmylonelywayunderthestarlight,andsawspreadbeforemethedarkenedearthsurroundingwithherarmscountlesshomesfurnishedwithcradlesandbeds,mothers』heartsandeveninglamps,andyounglivesgladwithagladnessthatknowsnothingofitsvaluefortheworld.
TheBeginning
「WherehaveIcomefrom,wheredidyoupickmeup?thebabyaskeditsmother.
「Youwerehiddeninmyheartasitsdesire,mydarling.Andheansweredhalfcrying,halflaughing,andclaspingthebabytoherbreast.
「Youwereinthedollsofmychildhood』sgames;andwhenwithclayImadetheimageofmygodeverymorning,Imadeandunmadeyouthen.
「Youwereenshrinedwithourhouseholddeity,inhisworshipIworshippedyou.
「Inallmyhopesandmyloves,inmylife,inthelifeofmymotheryouhavelived.
「InthelapofthedeathlessSpiritwhorulesourhomeyouhavebeennursedforages.
「Wheningirlhoodmyheartwasopeningitspetals,youhoveredasafragranceaboutit.
「Yourtendersoftnessbloomedinmyyouthfullimbs,likeaglowintheskybeforethesunrise.
「Heaven』sf?irstdarling,twin-bornwiththemorninglight,youhavef?loateddownthestreamoftheworld』slifeandatlastyouhavestrandedonmyheart.
「AsIgazeonyourface,mysteryoverwhelmsme;youwhobelongtoallhavebecomemine.
「ForfearoflosingyouIholdyoutighttomybreast.Whatmagichassnaredtheworld』streasureintheseslenderarmsofmine?」
TheFurtherBank
Ilongtogoovertheretothefurtherbankoftheriver.
Wherethoseboatsaretiedtothebamboopolesinaline;
Wheremencrossoverintheirboatsinthemorningwithploughsontheirshoulderstotilltheirfar-awayf?ields;
Wherethecowherdsmaketheirlowingcattleswimacrosstotheriversidepasture;
Evenfalltheyallcomebackhomeintheevening,leavingthejackalstohowlintheislandovergrownwithweeds.
Mother,ifyoudon』tmind,IshouldliketobecometheboatmanoftheferryboatwhenIamgrownup.
Theysaytherearestrangepoolshiddenbehindthathighbank.
Wheref?locksofwildduckscomewhentherainsareover,andthickreedsgrowroundthemarginswherewater-birdslaytheireggs;
Wheresnipeswiththeirdancingtailsstamptheirtinyfootprintsuponthecleansoftmud;
Whereintheeveningthetallgrassescrestedwithwhitef?lowersinvitethemoonbeamtof?loatupontheirwaves.
Mother,ifyoudon』tmind,IshouldliketobecometheboatmanoftheferryboatwhenIamgrownup.
Ishallcrossandcrossbackfrombanktobank,andalltheboysandgirlsofthevillagewillwonderatmewhiletheyarebathing.