3

The Champa Flower

Supposing I became a champer flower, just for fun, and grew on a branch high

up that tree, and shook in the window with laughter and danced upon the newly budded leaves, and would you know me，mother?

You would call, "Baby, where are you?" and I shuould laugh at myself 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 shadows of champa tree to the little court where you say your prays, your would notice the scent of the flower，but not know that it came from me.

When after midday meal you sat at the window, reading Ramanyana, 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 it was the tiny shadow of your little child?

When in the evening , you went to the cow-shed with the lighted lamp in your hand, I should suddenly drop on to the earth again and be your baby once more,

and beg you to tell me a story.

"Where have you been , you naughty child?"

"I won't tell you, mother," That's what you and I would say then.

Champa 花

假设我变成一朵champa 花，纯粹为了好玩，长在那棵树的高高的枝桠上，笑着，在窗子里摇曳，跳在新芽绽放的树叶上，妈妈，你会认出我吗？

你会叫喊：“宝贝，你在哪里？”而我会偷偷地发笑，静悄悄地。

我会狡猾地展开我的蓓蕾看着你忙活。

当你沐浴后，湿漉漉的头发披在肩上，你穿过树荫走到你做祷告的小院，你就会闻到阵阵到花香，可你不知道这是我发出来的花香。

当你吃完午饭，坐在窗边阅读Ramanyana，树荫落在你的秀发和膝盖上，

我会将我小小的影子投射到你的书页，你正在阅读的字里行间。

但是你能猜得出来那是那小小的影子竟来自你的宝贝？

当夜间来临，你手提亮着的油灯来到牛棚，我又会突然落地再做一次你的宝贝，要你给我讲故事。

“你去哪里了，调皮的小家伙？”

“妈妈，我就不告诉你！”这就是你和我将会说的话。