英语诗歌:Deaths Of Flowers
                    英语课
                
            E J Scovell (1907 - 1999)
I would if I could choose
Age and die outwards 1 as a tulip does;
Not as this iris 2 drawing in, in-coiling
Its complex strange taut 3 inflorescence, willing
Itself a bud again - though all achieved is
No more than a clenched 4 sadness,
The tears of gum not flowing.
I would choose the tulip’s reckless way of going;
Whose petals 5 answer light, altering by fractions
From closed to wide, from one through many perfections,
Till wrecked 6, flamboyant 7, strayed beyond recall,
Like flakes 8 of fire they piecemeal 9 fall.
 adj.外面的,公开的,向外的;adv.向外;n.外形
- Does this door open inwards or outwards?这门朝里开还是朝外开?
 - In lapping up a fur,they always put the inner side outwards.卷毛皮时,他们总是让内层朝外。
 
 n.虹膜,彩虹
- The opening of the iris is called the pupil.虹膜的开口处叫做瞳孔。
 - This incredible human eye,complete with retina and iris,can be found in the Maldives.又是在马尔代夫,有这样一只难以置信的眼睛,连视网膜和虹膜都刻画齐全了。
 
 adj.拉紧的,绷紧的,紧张的
- The bowstring is stretched taut.弓弦绷得很紧。
 - Scarlett's taut nerves almost cracked as a sudden noise sounded in the underbrush near them. 思嘉紧张的神经几乎一下绷裂了,因为她听见附近灌木丛中突然冒出的一个声音。
 
 v.紧握,抓紧,咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 )
- He clenched his fists in anger. 他愤怒地攥紧了拳头。
 - She clenched her hands in her lap to hide their trembling. 她攥紧双手放在腿上,以掩饰其颤抖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
 
 n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 )
- white petals tinged with blue 略带蓝色的白花瓣
 - The petals of many flowers expand in the sunshine. 许多花瓣在阳光下开放。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
 
 adj.火焰般的,华丽的,炫耀的
- His clothes were rather flamboyant for such a serious occasion.他的衣着在这种严肃场合太浮夸了。
 - The King's flamboyant lifestyle is well known.国王的奢华生活方式是人尽皆知的。
 
 小薄片( flake的名词复数 ); (尤指)碎片; 雪花; 古怪的人
- It's snowing in great flakes. 天下着鹅毛大雪。
 - It is snowing in great flakes. 正值大雪纷飞。