Ode by Shen T’sung Wen ~ 沈从文 《颂》 with English Translations

作品原文

沈从文 《颂》

说是总有那么一天,
你的身体成了我极熟的地方,
那转湾抹角,那小阜平冈;
一草一木我全知道清清楚楚,
虽在黑暗里我也不至于迷途。
如今这一天居然来了。

我嗅惯着了你身上的香味,
如同吃惯了樱桃的竹雀;
辨得出樱桃香味。

樱桃与桑葚以及地莓味道的不同,
虽然这竹雀并不曾吃过
桑葚与地莓也明白的。

你是一枝柳;
有风时是动,无风时是动:
但在大风摇你撼你一阵过后,
你再也不能动了。
我思量永远是风,是你的风。

 

 

作品译文

Ode
Shen T’sung Wen

It was told a day must come
When your body would be my most familiar haunt,
Its turns and twists, flat planes, small elevations;
Intimate with each vidual tree and plant,
Even in the dark I would not lose my way.
Now comes the day.

I am used to sniff the perfume of your body
As the snipe is used to gobble down the cherry:
It can discern the fragrance of the cherry.
Mulberry, strawberry, cherry have different flavours:
A snipe that never has tasted the former two
Is quite aware of this subtle difference.

A willow branch you are.
You sway in the breeze; when it’s hushed you also sway.
But after the high wind shakes you thoroughly
You will not stir.

I long to be wind for ever, be your wind.

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