the miller’s daughter
alfred, lord tennyson
•
it is the miller's daughter,
and she is grown so dear, so dear,
that i would be the jewel
that trembles at her ear:
for hid in ringlets day and night,
i'd touch her neck so warm and white.
and i would be the girdle
about her dainty dainty waist,
and her heart would beat against me
in sorrow and in rest:
and i should know if it beat right,
i'd clasp it round so close and tight.
and i would be the necklace,
and all day long to fall and rise
upon her balmy bosom,
with her laughter or her sighs:
and i would lie so light, so light,
i scarce should be unclasp'd at night.
1,000 Yen
Written by Alfred Tenny
Translated by Yu Xin
She is the miller,
Grow up, oh! Out of such a lovely way,
I would like to be that jewel
Shake at the lips of her ear:
Hiding in her sideburns day and night,
Gently caress her neck white and warm.
I would like to be that nepotism,
Wrapped around her waist,
Feel her heartbeat
In grief and peace:
You should know if your heartbeat is stable,
I hugged it so close.
I would like to be that necklace,
It goes up and down all day long
On her fragrant chest,
Laughter and sighs with her:
Lie gently and gently on it,
Almost at night there is no separation.
Translator's Bio:
Yu Xin, pen name Yu Xin, is a member of the Chinese Poetry Society, a member of the China Translation Association, an editorial board member of the Chinese Poetry Translation Editorial Committee of the Chinese Poetry Network, and the director of the Tangshan Poetry Women's Working Committee.
