Go inside a stone

进入一块石头

That would be my way.

那将是我的方式。

Let somebody else become a dove

让别人变成鸽子

Or gnash with a tiger's tooth.

让别人用老虎的牙齿去咬。

I am happy to be a stone.

我很乐意做一块石头。

From the outside the stone is a riddle:

外表看石头是一个谜：

No one knows how to answer it.

谁都猜不到谜底。

Yet within, it must be cool and quiet

而内部，一定冰冷又安静

Even though a cow steps on it full weight,

即使母牛将全部的体重踩在它身上，

Even though a child throws it in a river;

即使孩子把它扔进河里；

The stone sinks, slow, unperturbed

石头下沉，缓慢，镇定

To the river bottom

沉到河底

Where the fishes come to knock on it

鱼儿游过来敲它

And listen.

听它。

I have seen sparks fly out

当两石相击，

When two stones are rubbed,

我看见火星飞迸，

So perhaps it is not dark inside after all;

所以也许它里边根本不是一团漆黑；

Perhaps there is a moon shining

也许有一轮月亮在某处

From somewhere, as though behind a hill—

照耀着，仿佛藏在一座山的背后――

Just enough light to make out

那光亮刚好可以让你

The strange writings, the star-charts

在隐秘的墙上辨认出

On the inner walls.

古怪的文字，星星的航海图。