路旁的知更A Roadside Robin

 

          一隻褐腹的知更   A robin with a brown belly

       在路旁啄一條蚯蚓  Was pecking a worm on a roadside

   我走過時她只抬一抬頭    When I passed by she only looked up briefly

     不願放棄她的戰利品  Unwilling to give up her captive easily

 

     我下意識地拍一拍手    I clapped my hands subconsciously

       她只是倒退了幾寸  She stepped back a few inches only

   似乎不甘放掉她的美味  As if she would not abandon her delicacy

   重拍時,她才直飛樹頂  Until I clapped loudly, then she flew away

 

       我不知為甚要如此  I do not know why I should do this

       和她去計較或相爭  To compete or just to make a fuss

   這可能是人類的優越感  Could it be due to our human superiority

     做什麼事都恣意任性  That we do whatever we please

 

     後來,我到遠處窺探  Then I hide myself afar and peep

      她會不會回來找尋?   Will she come back again to seek?

 也許,她已不齒我的作為  I am afraid she has already despised me

   讓我的歉意,無處可申  And let my regrets have nowhere to speak

 

          節錄自釀出版《對流──夏菁中英對照詩集》