【小小天問】Time and Eternity

不知道時間是火焰或漩渦

只知道它從指隙間流走

留下一隻空空的手

老的握不成一把拳頭

只知道額頭它燒了又燒

年輕的激情燙得人心焦

焦掉的心只剩下一堆灰

為了有一隻雛鳳要飛

出去，顫顫的翅膀向自由

不知道永恆是烈火或洪水

或是不燃燒也不迴流

余光中

I do not know if time is flame or flow,

I only know through the fingers its drip

Leaves a hand dry and hollow,

Too feeble a fist for a grip.

I only know how often it singes

A brow, how often youthful passion

Leaves a heart scorched with longing

And burned down to a heap of ash

That a new phoenix may break its way

Out, its trembling wings freedom-bound.

Unknown if eternity is fire or flood

Or neither burns up nor whirls around.

Yu Kwang-chung