我請求一個吉普賽朋友
去摸仿一個古時的形象
並說着古人的名訓。
她收回她的下巴,
把她的脖子和頭弄成
尼羅河方尖碑之狀
說:
從你嘴中取出塞口物,孩子,
且儘管保持沈默。
別告訴人任何事，因沒有人聽,
可你的嘴唇卻要準備好隨時開講。

Gypsy

I asked a gypsy pal
To imitate an old image
And speak old wisdom.
She drew in her chin,
Made her neck and head
The top piece of a Nile obelisk
and said:
Snatch off the gag from thy mouth, child,
And be free to keep silence.
Tell no man anything for no man listens,
Yet hold thy lips ready to speak.

---By Carl Sandberg (美1878-1967)
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