Pause
Mary Ursula Bethell (玛丽.厄休拉.贝瑟尔)
When I am very earnestly digging
I lift my head somtimes， and look at the mountains，
And muse upon them， muscles relaxing.
I think how freely the wild grasses flower there，
How grandly the storm-shaped trees are
massed in their gorges
And the rain-worn rocks strewn in magnifcent heaps.
Pioneer plants on those uplands find their own footing；
No vigorous growth， there， is an evil weed：
All weathers are salutary.
It is only a little while since this hill-side
Lay untrammelled like wise.
Unceasingly swept by transmarine winds.
In a very little while， it my be，
When our imopulsive limbs and our superior skulls
Have to the soil restored several ounces of fertiliser，
The mother of all will take charge again，
And soon wipe away with her elements
Our small fond human enclosures.
短休
译者 / 黎翠珍
我十分认真地挖地时
偶尔抬头看看山峦
对之沉思，好松弛一下肌肉。
我想，那儿野草长得多自由，
山沟里在风暴中成形的树木丛生得多郁茂，
雨蚀的一堆堆石头垒得多雄伟。
先驱植物在那些丘阜上扎下自己的根；
在那儿生长旺盛算不上恶草恶木；
什么样的气候都是有利的。
这里的山坡不久前
也同样是无拘无束，
不停不歇吹着越洋的风。
过些时有可能和以前一样，
等我们冲动的四肢和高超的大脑
归还这泥土几盎司肥料，
万物之母会再次掌权，
用她的自然力很快就抹掉
我们傻乎乎人造的小田园。
