中诗英译:十二生肖(组诗)Twelve Years of Animals
Mice
鼠Whether a black cat or white cat
无论黑猫白猫If it loves mice, it’s a good cat
爱鼠都是好猫
So long as it likes fishy food
只要喜欢鲜腥You have way out to cheer its mood
就能投其所好Bull
牛One remnant horn is left atop
剩下一只残角As a weapon for self-defense
留作防身利器Sacrificed is one horn, one lop
献出一只犄角The bugle call to charge from hence
吹响进击号子Tiger
虎The tiger’s brother is the cat
猫是虎的小弟The cat’s disciple is the tiger
虎是猫的徒弟The teacher’s in the room, and that
师傅进了卧室In the cage must be the brother
哥哥进了笼子Rabbit
兔Looking around, the wondering souls
眼观六路迷茫So wary, were given a scare
耳听八方惊慌Last night they worked to make three holes
昨夜筑成三窟This morning they fell into a snare
今晨落入电网Dragon
龙None has seen or will ever see
谁也没有见过But everyone knows that it’s me
谁都知道是我No flesh or blood, no length or girth
没有血肉身躯But I survive the sky and earth
活得天长地久Snake
蛇Once you are bitten by a snake
一朝你被蛇咬Don’t fear a rope, don’t be afraid
君莫再怕井绳A snake sometimes bites, it’s an ache
毒蛇偶尔伤人But venom can save and can aid
蛇毒常常救人Horse
马Grassland, slaughter house, battle ground
牧场疆场屠场Race course, casino, and bazaar
赛场赌场市场The sky and earth shrink round by round
天地越来越小While its name travels near and far
名气越来越响Sheep
羊Though its horns are gracefully curled
虽然犄角健美It’s no fighter, nothing
绝非斗士It has left a phrase to the world:
留下一句成语A wolf in sheep’s clothing
狼披羊皮Monkey
猴They’d get the moon, tail to tail tied
曾因结尾捞月For this the world oft them deride
世代遭人嘲笑Hearing cocks crow and the dawn greet
听见人间鸡叫They feel their hearts violently beat
心里怦怦直跳Chicken
鸡Looking like birds, not birds are they
像鸟又不是鸟Having wings, they can’t fly their way
有翅却飞不高They sing their song as morning call
司晨爱唱山歌And, having laid eggs, brag: laid all
下蛋也哼小调Dog
狗Of the human world they’re pets sweet
混成人间宠物But it’s not snug life, whatever
活得也不安乐Flaming fire, hotpot and dog meat
狗肉火锅火红Seeing them all dogs but shiver
狗狗浑身哆嗦Pig
猪Why not live well, one can live well
要想活得快乐Why not eat well, eat well like hell
先要吃得快活Men fatten me. Fatten me please
人在给我催肥I will make you fat, give you grease
我在催人增肥
