Moss covers the cobblestone
A rusty gate half open
All is quiet in the garden
Except for the cricket chirping

The courtyard is strewn with leaves
No one has entered the gate
Except curious onlookers
Wondering about its past history

Weeds have over-grown
The flower beds
Where are the roses and
The gardener’s caring hands?

Tall trees are growing wild
Providing a perfect shade
Behind the windows and doors
Lie only sad memories

Where are the children
Playing on swings?
Where is their laughter
Under the clear blue sky?

Where is the sweet melody
Flowing from her fingers?
Where is the baby grand?
Where are the adoring friends?

The stove is now cold and rusty
No one has prepared evening meals
The kitchen smells of dusty mold
Long gone is the aroma of baking

The sky remains bright and calm
Looking down with pity.
Who stole their dreams and joy?
But their own greed and folly?

I can still hear the angry voices
And see their angry faces
Even when the boughs are blooming
And the willows dancing in the wind

Is each household a tragedy?
Why can’t they live in harmony
Before parting tears and
Separation by death?

Gone are the signs of life
Time has no respect of persons
Leaving behind dust and bones
Without living memories

The sun used to stream through
The window panes
To awaken sleepy eyes
And start another busy day

But now there is no morn
And no eventide
The house neither wakes up
Nor slumbers at night

The seasons change
Unhurried and unchanged
The snow melts away in silence
Giving in to spring’s awakening

The hot summer sun fills the air
With its overbearing heat and light
But it too beats a hasty retreat
When autumn arrives solemnly

So round and round
The years go by
And everything in the mansion
Has gown old and dead

The bell from a distant chapel
Peels through the crisp air
No one heeds the call except
A sparrow on the tree top

苔藓覆盖着鹅卵石
一扇生锈的门半掩半开
花园里的一切都如此安静
除了几只唧唧的蟋蟀

院子里布满了落叶
再没人推开那扇门
除了偶尔路过的
淡淡地好奇它过去的情景

杂草已经长满了
昔日的花坛
玫瑰花在哪里呢？
辛勤的园丁也早已不见

高大的树木野蛮生长
以至浓荫遮盖一切
窗户和门的后面
只剩下淡淡的哀伤

孩子们在哪儿
在秋千上悠荡?
他们的笑声在哪里?
在那个晴朗的后晌？

女主人手指间流出的
欢快的琴声在哪里？
小宝宝百日聚会上
亲友们的笑声在哪里？

炉子现在已是锈黑冰凉
厨房已然满是灰尘和蛛网
再没有人准备热气腾腾的晚饭
再也闻不到昔日烘培的芳香

天空，依旧安静而明亮
满怀怜悯地注视这一切的空荡
是谁偷走了他们的快乐和梦想？
难道是他们自己的贪婪和愚妄？

我仿佛仍可听见那愤怒的争吵
看见他们因生气而扭曲的面庞
即使枝条正在发芽长叶
柳树在微风中悠然飘荡

难道每个家庭都注定是悲剧？
为什么他们不能和睦同居
直到分别的泪水流下
直到面对死亡的隔离?

生命的迹象已经逝去
岁月不饶人
只留下灰尘和枯骨
再没有生命的记忆

朝阳曾经
照过玻璃窗
唤醒惺忪的睡眼
开始一天的繁忙

但现在再也没有了清晨
也没有了黄昏
房子再不会醒起
晚上也没有安寝

季节依旧变换
不紧不慢,一如从前
雪仍就默默地消融
静静地迎候春天

炎热的夏日在空中弥漫
肆意挥洒它的炎热和光线
但它也会匆匆退去
让位给肃穆的秋天

如此循环往复
一年又一年
豪宅里的一切
已经变老死去不复出现

只有远处小教堂的钟声
穿过清新的空气飘来
只是再没有人听见,除了
树顶上的一只麻雀