Xu Zhimo's Song 除志摩的『歌』

This morning, I read another of Xu Zhimo's poems. It's a rather sad song. There he talks about what he expects his lover to do when he dies . He is unsure what may happen. The future is too far away, too vague, too baffling, too uncertain for him to say anything definite about it. All he knows for sure is that he will no longer be able to see the sun, the green grass, the green shades of the cedar trees, the rain, the dews nor be able to hear any more the song of the nightingales.So here it is, with my translation.

                歌                                          Song

我死了的時侯，親愛的，       When I'm dead, dear,

    別為我唱悲傷的歌；             Sing no sad songs for me;

我墳上不必安插薔薇，           No need to plant roses upon my grave,

     也無須濃蔭的柏樹；            No need for heavy shady cedars either;

讓蓋着我的青青的草              Let the green green grass covering me

     零着雨，也沾着露珠；      brave the rain, and touch the pearls of dew;

假如你願意，請記着我，     If you wish, remember me please,

     要是你甘心忘了我。          If you will suffer it, forget me.

我再不見地面的青蔭，         I'll see the shady green on the ground no more

覺不到雨露的甜蜜；             nor feel the sweet honey of rain and dew;

再聽不見夜鶯的歌喉            nor hear the nightingale's songs 

      在黑夜裏傾吐悲啼；       pouring sobs of sadness in the dark of the night;

在悠久的昏暮中迷惘，         baffled in the diffused dusk,

      陽光不升起，也不消翳；  the sun rises no more, nor loses its feathery screen; 

我也許，也許我記得你，     Perhaps, perhaps I will remember you,

     我也許，我也許忘記。    Perhaps, perhaps, I may forget you.