The Gardener 58
One morning in the flower garden a blind girl came to offer me a flower chain in the cover of a lotus leaf。
I put it round my neck; and tears came to my eyes。
I kissed her and said;“You are blind even as the flowers are。
You yourself know not how beautiful is your gift。”
The Gardener 59
O woman; you are not merely the handiwork of God; but also of men;
these are ever endowing you with beauty from their hearts。
Poets are weaving for you a web with threads of golden imagery;
painters are giving your form ever new immortality。
The sea gives its pearls; the mines their gold; the summer gardens their flowers to deck you; to cover you; to make you more precious。
The desire of men’s hearts has shed its glory over your youth。
You are one half woman and one half dream。
The Gardener 60
Amidst the rush and roar of life; O Beauty; carved in stone; you stand mute and still; alone and aloof。
园丁集 第十一章(5)
Great Time sits enamoured at your feet and murmurs:
“Speak; speak to me; my love; speak; my bride!”
But your speech is shut up in stone; O Immovable Beauty!
The Gardener 61
Peace; my heart; let the time for the parting be sweet。
Let it not be a death but pleteness。
Let love melt into memory and pain into songs。
Let the flight through the sky end in the folding of the wings over the nest。
Let the last touch of your hands be gentle like the flower of the night。
Stand still; O Beautiful End; for a moment; and say your last words in silence。
I bow to you and hold up my lamp to light you on your way。
The Gardener 62
In the dusky path of a dream I went to seek the love who was mine in a former life。
Her house stood at the end of a desolate street。
In the evening breeze her pet peacock sat drowsing on its perch; and the pigeons were silent in their corner。
She set her lamp down by the portal and stood before me。
She raised her large eyes to my face and mutely asked;“Are you well; my friend?”
I tried to answer; but our language had been lost and forgotten。
I thought and thought; our names would not e to my mind。