非典型兒童詩歌： 擰頭和床生

在學者詩人恰爾迪）John Ciardi） 的獲獎當中，1982年，全國英語教師委員會授予他傑齣兒童詩歌獎。

幸福的家庭
作者：約翰·恰爾迪

在孩子們說晚安之前，
爸爸媽媽，停下來想一想：
你把他們的頭擰緊了嗎？
你用墨水洗過他們的耳朵嗎？

你有說過、做過和想過嗎
所有認真的父母都應該嗎？
你有沒有該動手就教訓他們：
你有要求他們品行善良嗎？

最重要的是 - 當你開始時
走出門，關掉燈——
思考，確定，省察你的心：
你把他們的頭擰緊了嗎？

如果他們睡覺時打噴嚏
他們的小腦袋會掉下來嗎？
如果他們只是深呼吸呢？
如果 - 特別是 - 他們咳嗽？

應該——唉！ - 小可愛們
失去一兩個頭，
你給他們的小耳朵塗上墨水了嗎：
女孩的耳朵是粉紅色的，男孩的耳朵是藍色的？

孩子們的頭很松。
爸爸媽媽，把它們擰緊。
如果您不確定使用
活動扳手，但要正確使用。

如果頭部被擰開
你就會知道你失敗了。
對有疑問的情況應進行粘合。
頑固案件應予以解決。

然後當你的寶貝們都
甜甜地尖叫著上床睡覺
爸爸媽媽你們可能就知道
天使守護著每個小腦袋。

早上來你會發現
一個一個的小頭
充滿溫柔的思想和善良，
甜甜地叫著要吃東西。

The Happy Family
by John Ciardi

Before the children say goodnight,
Mother, Father, stop and think:
Have you screwed their heads on tight?
Have you washed their ears with ink?

Have you said and done and thought
All the earnest parents should?
Have you beaten them as you ought:
Have you begged them to be good?

And above all - when you start
Out the door and douse the light -
Think, be certain, search your heart:
Have you screwed their heads on tight?

If they sneeze when they're asleep,
Will their little heads come off?
If they just breathe very deep?
If - especially - they cough?

Should - alas! - the little dears
Lose a little head or two,
Have you inked their little ears:
Girls' ears pink and boys' ears blue?

Children's heads are very loose.
Mother, Father, screw them tight.
If you feel uncertain use
A monkey wrench, but do it right.

If a head should come unscrewed
You will know that you have failed.
Doubtful cases should be glued.
Stubborn cases should be nailed.

Then when all your darlings go
Sweetly screaming off to bed,
Mother, Father, you may know
Angels guard each little head.

Come the morning you will find
One by one each little head
Fill of gentle thoughts and kind,
Sweetly screaming to be fed.



萬物之父母

作者：約翰·恰爾迪

如果我叫你朋友我會死嗎？
      我吻過你的妻子，但只吻了額頭。
只有那裡嗎？
      嗯，也許低一點。
只有那裡嗎？
      也許還有一點不止。
你在我床上。
      我在那裡做的是你的工作。
孩子出生了。
      萬物皆有父母。
我應該說那是我的嗎？
      孩子是從床而生的。

the parents of things

if i call you friend will i die of it?
 i have kissed your wife,but on the forehead only.
only there?
 well, perhaps a little lower.
only there?
and perhaps a little more.
you were in my bed.
it was your work i did there.
the child was born.
all things have parents.
and shall i call it mine?
the child is born of the bed.