Gái xuân xem sách A girl reading a book in a country village

A girl reading a book in a country village

The shop is closed， the single street asleep.
Only a girl at dusk sits in a chair
And reads a book before her parents” house，
While trees hiss with the rush of passing traffic.

The yard in which she reads is small and bare，
The house is weathered brick, a workman is cottage，
But the town has ancient pepper trees and gums
For the green mind of a girl pleasing herself.

She smiles into her book while strangers pass.
Eyes cast down in her public reverie，
Is friendly in a light which has no shadows，
Facing the road and gazing at her page.