母親正是我的生命樹(The Giving Tree)

    看后浮想聯翩,使我想起了離開我已經幾十年的母親,書中描述的樹就是我母親的真實寫照.我母親為了我們兄弟姐妹5人的成長,過度透支她的生命,終因勞累過度,積勞成疾,52歲就離開了我們.

    為了生動形象,我把它翻譯為---生命樹(The Giving Tree).我把它轉抄在這裡,籍此紀念我英年早逝的母親.

                           The Giving Tree 

                             生    命   樹   

                         by Shel Silverstein     for  Nicky

                          (1964   Evil Eye Music, Inc.)

   Once there was a tree and she loved a little boy.

   從前有一棵樹並且這棵樹愛一個小男孩.

   And everyday the boy would come and he gather her leaves and make them into crowns (Hua Huan) and play king of

  男孩每天都來到樹下,揀起樹葉做成花環(戴在自己的頭上模仿)森林之王.

the forest. He would climb her trunk and swing from her branches and eat apples. And they would play hide-and-go-

                 他爬上樹並且搖晃樹的枝條,吃樹上的蘋果.                                                他玩捉迷藏.

seek. And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade. And the boy loved the tree very much. And the tree was

          當他(玩)累了,就躺在樹蔭下睡覺.                             男孩(也)非常愛這棵樹.                       樹也高興.

happy. But time went by. And the boy grew older. And the tree was often alone.

            隨著時間的流逝,男孩長大了.                       樹經常(感到)孤單.

  Then one day the boy came to the tree and the tree said, "Come, Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my

  一天男孩來到樹前.樹說:"過來,小夥子,爬我的樹榦,抓著我的枝條盪鞦韆,

brunches and eat apples and play in my shade and be happy."

                       吃蘋果,在我的陰涼處玩,很快樂!"

  "I am too big to climb and play," said the boy.

  "我太大了,再不能爬樹和玩了," 男孩說.

  "I want to buy things and have fun. I want some money. Can you give me some money?"

"我想買東西,尋找樂趣. 我需要錢.你能給我一些錢嗎?"

  "I am sorry," said the tree, "but I have no money. I have only leaves and apples. Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in

"對不起,"樹說,"可是,我沒有錢. 我只有樹葉和蘋果.摘我的蘋果,男孩,並且拿到城裡去買.

the city. Then you will have money and you will be happy."

              然後你就有錢了,也快樂了."

  And the boy climbed up the tree and gathered her apples and carried them away.

  隨後男孩爬上樹,摘了蘋果並且拿走了.

  And the tree was happy.

  樹也很快樂.

  But the boy stayed away for a long time ... and the tree was sad. And then one day the boy came back and the tree

  接著男孩好久都沒有來...                              樹很憂傷.                   有天男孩回來了.                          樹激動地

shook (Ji Dong) with joy and she said, "Come, Boy, climb up my trunk and swing from my brunches and be happy."

說:"過來,小夥子,爬我的樹榦, 抓著我的枝條盪鞦韆, 很快樂!"

"I am too busy to climb trees," said the boy.

"我太忙,顧不上爬樹," 男孩說.

  "I want a house to keep my warm," he said.

"我需要房子保暖," 他說.

  "I want a wife and I want children, and so I need a house. Can you give me a house?"

"我要娶妻子,生孩子,我需要一棟房子.你能給我房子嗎?"

  "I have no house," said the tree. "The forest is my house, but you may cut off my branches and build a house. Then

"我沒有房子,"           樹說.             "森林就是我的房子, 但是你可以截下我枝條來建造房子.

you will be happy."

然後你就會快樂."

  And so the boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build his house. And the tree was happy.

 男孩就砍下樹枝條並拿走去造房子.                                               樹也快樂.

  But the boy stayed away for a long time. And when he came back, the tree was so happy, she could hardly speak.

  後來男孩好久沒有來.                但是當他回來時,樹非常高興,             她幾乎說不出話了.

  "Come and play." 

"過來玩."

  "I am too old and sad to play," said the boy.

"我太老了,而且討厭玩," 男孩說.

  "I want a boat that will take me far away from here. Can you give me a boat?"

"我想要條船並乘它離開這兒. 你能給我條船嗎?"

  "Cut down my trunk and make a boat," said the tree.

"砍倒我的樹榦,用它造船吧," 樹說.

  "Then you can sail away ... and be happy."

"這樣你就能航行...得到快樂."

  And so the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away.

男孩就砍倒樹榦,造了條船,並駕船離開了.

  And the tree was happy but not really.

樹快樂但有點勉強.

  And after a long time the boy came back again.

過了很長時間男孩又回來了.

  "I am sorry, Boy," said the tree, "but I have nothing left to give you----

"對不起,小夥子,"   樹說,                "可是我已經沒有什麼可以給你了---

My apples are gone."

我的蘋果沒有了."

   "My teeth are too weak for apples," said the boy.

"我的牙齒已經咬不動蘋果了,"             男孩說.

   "My bunches are gone," said the tree. "You cannot swing on them----"

"我的枝條也沒有了,"           樹說.             "你也不能抓著我的枝條盪鞦韆了---"

   "I am too old to swing on brunches," said the boy.

"我也老的不能抓著你的枝條盪鞦韆了,"                             男孩說.

   "My trunk is gone." said the tree. "You cannot climb----"

"我的樹榦也沒有了,"           樹說.             "你也不能爬了---"

   "I am too tired to climb," said the boy.

"我也老的爬不成了,"                             男孩說.

   "I am sorry," sighed the tree.

"我很抱歉," 樹哽咽了.

   "I wish that I could give you something ... but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump. I am sorry...."

"我想給你些東西...                      可是我一無所有了.       我僅僅一個樹茬.          我很抱歉...."       

   "I do not need very much now," said the boy, "just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired."

"我現在也什麼都不需要了," 男孩說, "我僅僅需要一個安靜的地方坐下來休息. 我太累了."

  "Well," said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could,

"好吧,"   樹說,              她儘可能挺直自己.

  "Well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, boy, sit down. Sit down and rest."

"好,一個老樹茬正好讓你坐下來休息,過來,小夥子,請坐. 請坐下來休息."

  And the boy did.

男孩就坐在(樹茬上).

  And the tree was happy.

樹也快樂.

   The End (終結)

附註：村友白露提供的聲，情，圖並茂的朗誦！