中詩英譯:十二生肖(組詩)Twelve Years of Animals
Mice
鼠Whether a black cat or white cat
無論黑貓白貓If it loves mice, it’s a good cat
愛鼠都是好貓
So long as it likes fishy food
只要喜歡鮮腥You have way out to cheer its Mood
就能投其所好Bull
牛One remnant horn is left atop
剩下一隻殘角As a weapon for self-defense
留作防身利器Sacrificed is one horn, one lop
獻出一隻犄角The bugle call to charge from hence
吹響進擊號子Tiger
虎The tiger’s brother is the cat
貓是虎的小弟The cat’s disciple is the tiger
虎是貓的徒弟The teacher’s in the room, and that
師傅進了臥室In the cage must be the brother
哥哥進了籠子Rabbit
兔Looking around, the wondering souls
眼觀六路迷茫So wary, were given a scare
耳聽八方驚慌Last night they worked to make three holes
昨夜築成三窟This morning they fell into a snare
今晨落入電網Dragon
龍None has seen or will ever see
誰也沒有見過But everyone knows that it’s me
誰都知道是我No flesh or blood, no length or girth
沒有血肉身軀But I survive the sky and earth
活得天長地久Snake
蛇Once you are bitten by a snake
一朝你被蛇咬Don’t fear a rope, don’t be afraid
君莫再怕井繩A snake sometimes bites, it’s an ache
毒蛇偶爾傷人But venom can save and can aid
蛇毒常常救人Horse
馬Grassland, slaughter house, battle ground
牧場疆場屠場Race course, casino, and bazaar
賽場賭場市場The sky and earth shrink round by round
天地越來越小While its name travels near and far
名氣越來越響Sheep
羊Though its horns are gracefully curled
雖然犄角健美It’s no fighter, nothing
絕非鬥士It has left a phrase to the world:
留下一句成語A wolf in sheep’s clothing
狼披羊皮Monkey
猴They’d get the moon, tail to tail tied
曾因結尾撈月For this the world oft them deride
世代遭人嘲笑Hearing cocks crow and the dawn greet
聽見人間雞叫They feel their hearts violently beat
心裏怦怦直跳Chicken
雞Looking like birds, not birds are they
像鳥又不是鳥Having wings, they can’t fly their way
有翅卻飛不高They sing their song as morning call
司晨愛唱山歌And, having laid eggs, brag: laid all
下蛋也哼小調Dog
狗Of the human world they’re pets sweet
混成人間寵物But it’s not snug life, whatever
活得也不安樂Flaming fire, hotpot and dog meat
狗肉火鍋火紅Seeing them all dogs but shiver
狗狗渾身哆嗦Pig
豬Why not live well, one can live well
要想活得快樂Why not eat well, eat well like hell
先要吃得快活Men fatten me. Fatten me please
人在給我催肥I will make you fat, give you grease
我在催人增肥
