Mother, thelighthasgrowngreyinthesky; Idonotknowwhatthetimeis.
Thereisnofuninmyplay, , ourholiday.
Leaveoffyourwork, mother; sitherebythewindowandtellmewherethedesertofTepāntarinthefairytaleis?
Theshadowoftherainshascoveredthedayfromendtoend.
Thefiercelightningisscratchingtheskywithitsnails.
Whenthecloudsrumbleanditthunders, Ilovetobeafraidinmyheartandclingtoyou.
Whentheheavyrainpattersforhoursonthebambooleaves, andourwindowsshakeandrattleatthegustsofwind, Iliketositaloneintheroom, mother, withyou, andhearyoutalkaboutthedesertofTepāntarinthefairytale.
Whereisit, mother, ontheshoreofwhatsea, atthefootofwhathills, inthekingdomofwhatking?
Therearenohedgestheretomarkthefields, nofootpathacrossitbywhichthevillagersreachtheirvillageintheevening, , liesthedesertofTepāntar.
Icanimaginehow, onjustsuchacloudyday, theyoungsonofthekingisridingaloneonagreyhorsethroughthedesert, insearchoftheprincesswholiesimprisonedinthegiant’spalaceacrossthatunknownwater.
Whenthehazeoftheraincomesdowninthedistantsky, andlightningstartsuplikeasuddenfitofpain, doesherememberhisunhappymother, abandonedbytheking, sweepingthecow-stallandwipinghereyes, whileheridesthroughthedesertofTepāntarinthefairytale?
See, mother, itisalmostdarkbeforethedayisover, andtherearenotravellersyonderonthevillageroad.
Theshepherdboyhasgonehomeearlyfromthepasture, andmenhavelefttheirfieldstositonmatsundertheeavesoftheirhuts, watchingthescowlingclouds.
Mother, Ihaveleftallmybooksontheshelf—donotaskmetodomylessonsnow.
WhenIgrowupandambiglikemyfather, Ishalllearnallthatmustbelearnt.
Butjustforto-day, tellme, mother, wherethedesertofTepāntarinthefairytaleis?
