我聽見亞美利加在歌唱
I Hear America Singing
惠特曼
Walt Whitman
惠特曼(Walt Whitman,1819-1892),美國十九世紀(jì)偉大的民主詩人。他出身貧苦,早年的生活歷盡艱辛,當(dāng)過信差、教師、排字工、編輯等。曾在美國各地流浪,結(jié)交各行各業(yè)的朋友。1855年出版《草葉集》,以嶄新的內(nèi)容和風(fēng)格在美國詩壇上別樹一幟?!恫萑~集》此后再版9次之多,每一次再版都添加新的詩篇。他的詩吟唱的是平凡的人和事,表現(xiàn)出對新生的美國的熱情歌頌,對民主思想的追求和對社會不公正的批判。在詩歌形式方面他大膽創(chuàng)新,推動了“自由詩體”的發(fā)展。
我聽見亞美利加在歌唱,我聽見各種不同的頌歌;
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
每個機(jī)械工人唱著那正應(yīng)該是他自己的活潑而有力的歌;
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
木匠在量他的厚板或橫梁的時候唱著他的歌;
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
泥水匠在預(yù)備工作或做完了工作的時候唱著他的歌;
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
船夫在船上唱著屬于他的歌,擦甲板的也在輪船的甲板上唱;
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
鞋匠坐在他的長凳上唱,帽匠站著唱;
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,
伐木人的歌,耕田孩子的歌,在早晨趕路的時候唱,或者在中午歇腳的時候唱,或者在日落的時候唱;
The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,
母親的美好的歌聲,或是忙碌的年青的妻子的歌聲,或是在縫紉或洗衣的女孩的歌聲;
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,
每一個人唱著屬于他或她而不屬于別人的歌;
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
在白天,唱著屬于白天的——在夜晚,那強(qiáng)健的、友善的年青人的集團(tuán),
The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust , friendly,
張開嘴巴唱著他們的強(qiáng)烈而又和諧的歌。
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.