The Sound of the Trees

 

 

 

I wonder about the trees.

Why do we wish to bear

Forever the noise of these

More than another noise

So close to our dwelling place?

We suffer them by the day

Till we lose all measure of pace,

And fixity in our joys,

And acquire a listening air.

They are that that talks of going

But never gets away;

And that talks no less for knowing,

As it grows wiser and older,

That now it means to stay.

My feet tug at the floor

And my head sways to my shoulder

Sometimes when I watch trees sway,

From the window or the door.

I shall set forth for somewhere,

I shall make the reckless choice

Some day when they are in voice

And tossing so as to scare

The white clouds over them on.

I shall have less to say,

But I shall be gone.

 

 

 

树声

 

 

 

树让我感到惊奇。

为什么我们能够

让树在家门口

日夜喧闹不休，

其它声音却受不了？

白天我们受它折磨，

失去安宁的准绳，

失去稳定的心绪，

却染上倾听的神气。

树是那种人，老说要走，

但永远没有出发；

老是谈长长见识，

现在年老睿智，

倒可以从此留下。

有时，我从窗口，从门里

注视着树枝摇曳，

我的脚难以举步，

我的头倚向一边。

总有一天，当树开腔，

翻来滚去，气势汹汹，

催赶头上的白云，

我将远走高飞，

我将孤注一掷。

我将不多说话，

但是一去不返。

 

（赵毅衡／译）