The Birthplace 出生地

Here further up the mountain slope
从这里沿山坡一直往上，
Than there was ever any hope,
在比希望还渺茫的地方，
My father built, enclosed a spring,
父亲曾经凿过一口泉水，
Strung chains of wall round everything,
还砌墙将各样东西圈围。
Subdued the growth of earth to grass,
他锄尽了地上，只留下草，
And brought our various lives to pass.
把我们带来世上走一遭。
A dozen girls and boys we were.
十二个兄弟姐妹都不同。
The mountain seemed to like the stir,
大山她像是喜欢这萌动；
And made of us a little while--
留我们在山里住了一阵 -
With always something in her smile.
亲切的微笑，含蓄的眼神。
Today she wouldn’t know our name.
现在我们是谁她已记不清。
(No girl’s, of course, has stayed the same.)
(再说，女的都改从了夫姓。)
The mountain pushed us off her knees.
曾经我们在她膝下玩闹。
And now her lap is full of trees.
如今那里已是枝繁叶茂。

1928 from West-Running Brook