To the Oak - Shu Ting

作品原文

舒婷 《致橡树》

我如果爱你——
绝不像攀援的凌霄花
借你的高枝炫耀自己；
我如果爱你——
绝不学痴情的鸟儿
为绿荫重复单调的歌曲；
也不止像泉源
常年送来清凉的慰藉；
也不止像险峰
增加你的高度，衬托你的威仪。
甚至日光。
甚至春雨。
不，这些都还不够！
我必须是你近旁的一株木棉，
作为树的形象和你站在一起。
根，紧握在地下
叶，相触在云里。
每一阵风过
我们都互相致意，
但没有人
听懂我们的言语。
你有你的铜枝铁干
像刀、像剑，
也像戟；
我有我的红硕的花朵
像沉重的叹息，
又像英勇的火炬。
我们分担寒潮、风雷、霹雳；
我们共享雾霭、流岚、虹霓。
仿佛永远分离，
却又终身相依。
这才是伟大的爱情，
坚贞就在这里：
爱——
不仅爱你伟岸的身躯，
也爱你坚持的位置，脚下的土地。

英文译文

To the Oak
Zheng Min

If I love you —
I’ll never be a clinging campsis flower
Resplendent in borrowed glory on your high boughs;
If I love you —
I’ll never mimic the silly infatuated bird
Repeating the same monotonous song for green shade;
Or be like a spring
Offering cool comfort all year long;
Or a lofty peak
Enhancing your stature, your eminence.
Even the sunlight,
Even spring rain,
None of these suffice!
I must be a kapok, the image of
A tree standing together with you;
Our roots closely intertwined beneath the earth,
Our leaves touching in the clouds.
With every whiff of wind
We greet each other
But no one can
Understand our words.
You’ll have bronze limbs and iron trunk,
Like knives, swords
And halberds.
I’ll have my crimson flowers
Like signs, heavy and deep,
Like heroic torches,
Together we’ll share
The cold tidal waves, storms, and thunderbolts;
Together we’ll share
The light mist, the colored rainbows;
We shall always depend on each other.
Only this can be called great love.
Wherein lies the faith, true and deep.
I love not only your stateliness
But also your firm stand, the earth beneath you.