When the heavy rain patters for hours on the bamboo leaves, and our windows shake and rattle at the gusts of wind, I like to sit alone in the room, mother, with you, and hear you talk about the desert of Tepantar in the fairy tale.
Where is it, mother, on the shore of what sea, at the foot of what hills, in the kingdom of what king?
当乌云发出雷鸣的时候，我喜欢怀着恐惧紧紧依偎在你的身上。
当倾盆大雨几个小时不停地拍打着竹叶，
而我们的窗户被狂风刮得嘎吱作响的时候，
我喜欢单独和你坐在屋里，妈妈，听你讲童话里的特潘塔沙漠的故事。
它在哪里，妈妈，在哪一个海岸上，在哪一座山脚下，在哪一个国王的疆土上？
There are no hedges there to mark the fields, no footpath across it by which the villages reach their village in the evening, or the woman who gathers dry sticks in the forest can bring her load to the market.
With patches of yellow grass in the sand and only one tree where the pair of wise old birds have their nest, lies the desert of Tepantar.
I can imagine how, on just such a cloudy day, the young son of the king is riding alone on a grey horse through the desert, in search of the princess who lies imprisoned in the giant’s palace across that unknown water.
田野上没有篱笆来标明界线，也没有一条穿越田野的小径，让村人在黄昏时走回村落，或者让在树林中拾干柴的妇人将柴带往市场。
沙漠上只有小丛小丛的黄草和一棵树，上面有一对聪明的老鸟搭建的窝，那个地方就是特潘塔沙漠。
我能够想象得出，在这样一个阴云密布的日子，国王那年轻的儿子，怎样独自骑着一匹灰马，穿越这片沙漠，横渡这片不知名的海洋，寻找那被巨人囚禁的公主。
When the haze of the rain comes down in the distant sky, and lightning starts up like a sudden fit of pain, does he remember his unhappy mother, abandoned by the king, sweeping the cow-stall and wiping her eyes, while he rides through the desert of Tepantar in the fairy tale?
See, mother, it is almost dark before the day is over, and there are no travellers yonder on the village road.
The shepherd boy has gone home early from the pasture, and men have left their fields to sit on mats under the eaves of their huts, watching the scowling clouds.
Mother, I have left all my books on the shelf —do not ask me to do my lessons now.
When I grow up and am big like my father, I shall learn all that must be learnt.
But just for today, tell me, mother, where the desert of Tepantar in the fairy tale is.
当雨雾在遥远的天空下沉，闪电犹如一阵突发的痛苦痉挛出现时，他是否还记得，当他骑马穿越童话里的特潘塔沙漠时，他那不幸的母亲被国王抛弃，正含着泪水清扫牛棚？
看，妈妈，一天还没过去，天色几乎都黑了，村庄那边的路上已没什么游人了。
牧童早就从牧场上回家了，人们也已从田地归来，坐在他们屋檐下的草席上，望着阴沉的云层。
妈妈，我把所有的书都放到书架上了——现在别让我做功课。
当我长大了，像爸爸一样大的时候，我会掌握必须学的东西。
但是今天，请告诉我，妈妈，童话里的特潘塔沙漠在什么地方。
The Rainy Day
Sullen clouds are gathering fast over the black fringe of the forest.
O child, do not go out!
The palm trees in a row by the lake are smiting their heads against the dismal sky; the crows with their draggled wings are silent on the tamarind branches, and the eastern back of the river is haunted by deepening gloom.
Our cow is owing loud, tied at the fence.
O child, wait here till I bring her into the stall.
Men have crowed into flooded field to catch the fishes as they escape from the over lowing ponds;
the rain-water is running in rills through the narrow lanes like a laughing boy who has run away from his mother to tease her.
雨 天
乌云迅速地聚集在森林那黑暗的边缘上。
喔，孩子，不要出去！
湖边一排棕榈树，正把头撞向阴沉的天空；羽毛凌乱的乌鸦，悄然栖息在罗望子的枝上，河的东岸萦绕着浓浓的忧郁。
我们拴在篱笆上的牛正高声叫着。
喔，孩子，在这里等着，等我把牛牵进棚里。
人们都挤在清水流溢的田间，捉那些从漫出的池水中逃出来的鱼儿；
雨水涨成了溪流，流过狭小的巷子，像一个嬉闹的孩子从他的母亲身边跑开，故意惹怒她似的。
Listen, someone is shouting for the boatman at the ford.
O child, the daylight is dim, and the crossing at the ferry is closed.
The sky seems to ride fast upon the madly-rushing rain;
the water in the river is loud and impatient;
women have hastened home early from the Ganges with their filled pitchers.
The evening lamps must be made ready.
O child, do not go out!
The road to the market is desolate, the lane to the river is slippery.
The wind is roaring and struggling among the bamboo branches like a wild beast tangled in a net.
听，有人在渡口喊船夫呢。
喔，孩子，天色昏暗，渡口的渡船已经停了。
天空像疾驰在滂沱的雨中；河水暴躁地喧嚣着；
女人们早已从恒河畔汲满了水，带着水罐匆匆地回家了。
夜晚用的灯，一定要准备好。
喔，孩子，不要出去！
去市场的大道已经无人行走，去河边的小径很滑。
风在竹林里咆哮挣扎着，好像一只落入陷阱的野兽。
Paper Boats
Day by day I float my paper boats one by one down the running stream.
In big black letters I write my name on them and the name of the village where I live.
I hope that someone in some strange land will find them and know who I am.
I load my little boats with shiuli flowers from our garden, and hope that these blooms of the dawn will be carried safely to land in the night.
I launch my paper boats and look up into the sky and see the little clouds setting their white bulging sails.
I know not what playmate of mine in the sky sends them down the air to race with my boats!
When night comes I bury my face in my arms and dream that my paper boats float on and on under the midnight stars.
The fairies of sleep are sailing in them, and the lading is their baskets full of dreams.
纸 船
我每天把纸船一只只放入急流中。
我在纸船上用大而黑的字写着我的名字和我住的村名。
我企盼着住在异乡的人会发现它们，知道我是谁。
我在小船上放着花园里长的雪莉花，希望这些在拂晓时分开放的花能在夜里被平安地带上岸。
我把我的纸船投进水里，仰望天空，看见小小的云朵正扬起鼓满了风的白帆。
我不知道，天上的哪个玩伴把这些船送下来和我的船比赛！
夜幕降临，我把脸埋在手臂里，
梦见我的纸船在午夜的星空下漂浮前行。
睡仙坐在船里，带着满载着梦的篮子。
The Sailor
The boat of the boatman Madhu is moored at the wharf of Rajgunj.
It is uselessly laden with jute, and has been lying there idle for ever so long.
If he would only lend me his boat, I should fill her with a hundred oars, and hoist sails, five or six or seven.
I should never steer her to stupid markets.
I should sail the seven seas and the thirteen rivers of fairyland.
But, mother, you won’t weep for me in a corner.
I am not going into the forest like Ramachandra to come back only after fourteen years.
I shall become the prince of the story, and fill my boat with whatever I like.
水 手
船夫马杜的船在拉耿尼码头停泊着。
这只船载着废弃的黄麻，已经长久地闲置在那里。
只要他乐意把船借给我，我会给它装上一百只桨，扬起五个、六个或七个风帆。
我决不把它驶进愚蠢的集市。
我将到仙境里的七大洋和十三条河中航行。
但是，妈妈，不要躲在角落里为我哭泣。
我不会像罗摩犍陀罗一样，去森林里，一去十四年才回来。
我将成为故事中的王子，让我的船装满我喜欢的所有东西。
I shall take my friend Ashu with me.
