Time and Eternity by Yu Guanzhong ~ 余光中 《小小天问》 with English Translations

作品原文

余光中 《小小天问》

不知道时间是火焰或漩涡
只知道它从指隙间溜走
留下一只空空的手
老得握不成一把拳头
只知道额头它烧了又烧
年轻的激情烫得人心焦
焦掉的心只剩一堆灰
为了有一只雏凤要飞
出去,颤颤的翅膀向自由
不知道永恒是烈火或洪水
或是不燃烧也不回流

 

 

作品译文

Time and Eternity
Yu Guanzhong

I don’t know if time is flame or flow,
I only know through the fingers tis drip
Leaves a hand dry and hollow,
Too feeble a fist for a grip.
I only know how often it singes
A brow, how often youthful passion
Leaves a heart scorched with longing
And burned down to a heap of ash
That a new phoenix may break its way
Out, its trembling wings freedom-bound.
Unknown if eternity is fire or flood
Or neither burns up nor whirls around.

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