LXXVIII

To the birds you gave songs, the birds gave you songs in return.

 

You gave me only voice, yet asked for more, and I sing.

 

You made your winds light and they are fleet in their service. You burdened my hands that I myself may lighten them, and at last, gain unburdened freedom for your service.

 

You created your Earth filling its shadows with fragments of light.

 

There you paused; you left me empty-handed in the dust to create your heaven.

 

To all things else you give; from me you ask.

 

The harvest of my life ripens¹ in the sun and the shower till I reap more than you sowed, gladdening your heart, O Master of the golden granary.

1 ripens   

v.成熟，使熟( ripen的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The sun ripens the crops. 太阳使庄稼成熟。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then their seed ripens, and soon they turn brown and shrivel up. 随后，它们的种子熟了，不久就变枯萎。 来自辞典例句