E. Housman. 1859–33. "Loveliest of Trees"
LOVELIEST of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.
Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.
And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.
樹中姿態最優美的櫻桃樹現在盛開了
沿著舊枝開滿了花兒，
佇立林道周圍
滿身雪白迎接復活節的到來
如今算來，屈屈70年的生涯中，
20個年頭悄逝已難再；
70個春天中，20個已虛渡，
只留50個年頭
而既然願嚐繁華榮景
50個春天仍嫌不足
我將起身往林地去
去欣賞櫻花樹上的雪景
The Mountains Are Dancing*
[Poem titled “when faces called flowers float out of the ground”]
(E. E. Cummings)
when faces called flowers float out of the ground
and breathing is wishing and wishing is having—
but keeping is downward and doubting and never
—it’s April (yes, April; my darling) it’s spring!
yes the pretty birds frolic as spry as can fly
yes the little fish gambol as glad as can be
(yes the mountains are dancing together)
when every leaf opens without any sound
and wishing is having and having is giving—
but keeping is doting and nothing and nonsense
—alive;we’re alive, dear:it’s(kiss me now)spring!
now the pretty birds hover so she and so he
now the little fish quiver so you and so i
(now the mountains are dancing,the mountains)
when more than was lost has been found has been found
and having is giving and giving is living—
but keeping is darkness and winter and cringing
—it’s spring(all our night becomes day)o,it’s spring!
all the pretty birds dive to the heart of the sky
all the little fish climb through the mind of the sea
(all the mountains are dancing;are dancing)
The Bird
(Elinor Wylie)
O clear and musical,
Sing again! Sing again!
Hear the rain fall
Through the long night.
Bring me your song again,
O dear delight!
O dear and comforting,
Mine again! Mine again!
Hear the rain sing
And the dark rejoice!
Shine like a spark again,
O clearest voice!
當時期盼的臉喚醒花兒自地面脫身而出
而一再的期盼氣息，卻一再令人失望，且懷疑期盼不再
— 4月到了 (親愛的!沒錯!是4月到了)，就是4月!
是的，美麗的鳥兒輕悄快樂地盡情飛翔
是的，小魚兒愉悅蹦跳
(是的，群山也為之齊舞)
就在各個樹葉張口啞然時
又有了期盼，有了這樣的期盼 —
就此無所由也不為了什麼，讓這樣的期盼處處滋生
— 我們要生氣盎然了，親愛的! (現在就親吻我吧！)，春天到了!
現在，鳥兒到處盤旋如同戀人一樣!
現在，魚兒到處悠遊如同你我一樣!
(現在群山也跟著起舞了!)
曾失去的又再找到了
曾有的期盼又得到了賜予，這樣的賜予讓大地復甦 —
但期盼中，飽嚐黑暗、寒冬和屈身的悲憐
—啊! 春天到了! (我們的黑夜已成了白日!)，是春天到了!
所有的鳥兒直挺向天空的懷抱中
所有的小魚兒騰湧在心情愉悅的海面上
(所有的山都在齊舞)
The Bird
(Elinor Wylie)
O clear and musical,
Sing again! Sing again!
Hear the rain fall
Through the long night.
Bring me your song again,
O dear delight!
O dear and comforting,
Mine again! Mine again!
Hear the rain sing
And the dark rejoice!
Shine like a spark again,
O clearest voice!
The Bird
(Elinor Wylie)
啊! 這輕亮的樂調
再吟唱!再吟唱吧！
聽這整夜的雨聲
為我帶來你的歌聲
啊!這貼心的快樂!
啊!這貼心又自在的快樂!
再為我獻唱! 再為我獻唱!
聽這雨聲的吟唱
以及，隱身黑暗中的欣喜!
又像是閃過的一道光輝
啊!這最清亮的歌聲!
