新月集(英文版)(37)

THE ASTRONOMER

I ONLY said, "When in the evening the round full moon gets entangled among the branches of that Kadam tree, couldn't somebody catch it?"

But d?d? [elder brother] laughed at me and said, "Baby, you are the silliest child I have ever known. The moon is ever so far from us, how could anybody catch it?"

I said, "D?d? how foolish you are! When mother looks out of her window and smiles down at us playing, would you call her far away?"

Still said, "You are a stupid child! But, baby, where could you find a net big enough to catch the moon with?"

I said, "Surely you could catch it with your hands."

But d?d? laughed and said, "You are the silliest child I have known. If it came nearer, you would see how big the moon is."

I said, "D?d?, what nonsense they teach at your school! When mother bends her face down to kiss us does her face look very big?"

But still d?d? says, "You are a stupid child."