金色花

假如我变成了一朵金色花，只是为了好玩，长在那棵树的高枝上，笑哈哈地在风中摇摆，又在新生的树叶上跳舞，妈妈，你会认识我么？

你要是叫道：“孩子，你在哪里呀？”我暗暗地在那里匿笑，却一声儿不响。

我要悄悄地开放花瓣儿，看着你工作。

当你沐浴后，湿发披在两肩，穿过金色花的林荫，走到你做祷告的小庭院时，你会嗅到这花的香气，却不知道这香气是从我身上来的。

当你吃过中饭，坐在窗前读《罗摩衍那》，那棵树的阴影落在你的头发与膝上时，我便要投我的小小的影子在你的书页上，正投在你所读的地方。

但是你会猜得出这就是你的小孩子的小影子么？

当你黄昏时拿了灯到牛棚里去，我便要突然地再落到地上来，又成了你的孩子，求你讲个故事给我听。

“你到哪里去了，你这坏孩子？”

“我不告诉你，妈妈。”这就是你同我那时所要说的话了。

THE CHAMPA FLOWER

SUPPOSING Ibecame achampa flower,just for fun,andgrew on abranch high up that tree,and shook in the wind withlaughter and danced upon the newly budded leaves,would youknow me,mother?

You would call,“Baby,where are you?”and Ishould laugh tomyself and keep quite quiet.

I should slyly open my petals and watch you at your work.

When after your bath,with wet hair spread on your shoulders,you walked through the shadow of the champa tree to the littlecourt where you say your prayers,you would notice the scent ofthe flower,but not know that it came from me.

When after the midday meal you sat at the window readingRamayana,and the tree’s shadow fell over your hair and your lap,I should fling my wee little shadow on to the page of your book,just where you were reading.

But would you guess that it was the tiny shadow of your littlechild?

When in the evening you went to the cow-shed with the lightedlamp in your hand,I should suddenly drop on to the earth againand be your own baby once more,and beg you to tell me astory.

“Where have you been,you naughty child?”

“I won’t tell you,mother.”That’s what you and Iwould saythen.

1. 金色花，原名champa，亦作Champak，学名Michelia Champaca，印度圣树，木兰花属植物，开金黄色碎花。译名亦作“瞻波伽”或“占博迦”。
2. 《罗摩衍那》（Ramayana）为印度叙事诗，相传系蚁垤（Valmiki）所作。今传本形式约为公元二世纪间所形成。全书分为七卷，共二万四千颂，皆系叙述罗摩生平之作。罗摩即罗摩犍陀罗。十车王之子，悉多之夫。他于第二世（Treta yaga）入世，为毗湿奴神第七化身。印人看他为英雄，有崇拜他如神的。