PLAYTHINGS

 CHILD, how happy you are sitting in the dust, playing with a broken twig¹ all the morning.

 

I smile at your play with that little bit of a broken twig.

 

I am busy with my accounts, adding up figures by the hour.

 

Perhaps you glance at me and think, "What a stupid game to spoil your morning with!"

 

Child, I have forgotten the art of being absorbed in sticks and mud-pies.

 

I seek out costly² playthings, and gather lumps of gold and silver.

 

With whatever you find you create your glad games, I spend both my time and my strength over things I never can obtain.

 

In my frail³ canoe I struggle to cross the sea of desire, and forget that I too am playing a game.

 

1 twig   

n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解

参考例句：

• He heard the sharp crack of a twig.他听到树枝清脆的断裂声。
• The sharp sound of a twig snapping scared the badger away.细枝突然折断的刺耳声把獾惊跑了。

2 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

3 frail   

adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的

参考例句：

• Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了，身体虚弱，不便独居。
• She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上，看上去特别虚弱。