跟随者
父亲用两匹马犁田，
他肩膀弓起，像一张鼓胀的帆
拉紧在犁柄与犁沟之间。
马匹在他的咂舌声中使尽全力。
一个专家。他会装上犁板，
安上亮锃锃的尖头钢犁铧。
泥土层持续不断地翻滚。
来到垄头，他只把缰绳
一拨，两匹冒汗的马便转过身
重新回到田里。他的眼睛
眯成一条缝，斜乜着地面，
准确地测量犁沟间的距离。
我跌跌撞撞跟在他的钉靴后，
有时候绊倒在光滑的草泥上；
有时候他把我驮在背上
随着他的脚步晃上晃下。
我想长大，想犁田，
想闭起一只眼，绷紧一只手臂。
但我能做的，只是跟随
他宽大的影子，在农地里转悠。
我是个讨厌鬼，总是踉踉跄跄，
哇哇乱叫。但如今
是父亲他跌跌撞撞老落在
我后面，并且甩不掉。
（黄灿然 译）
Follower
My father worked with a horse-plough,
His shoulders globed like a full sail strung
Between the shafts and the furrow.
The horses strained at his clicking tongue.
An expert. He would set the wing
And fit the bright steel-pointed sock.
The sod rolled over without breaking.
At the headrig, with a single pluck
Of reins, the sweating team turned round
And back into the land. His eye
Narrowed and angled at the ground,
Mapping the furrow exactly.
I stumbled in his hobnailed wake,
Fell sometimes on the polished sod;
Sometimes he rode me on his back
Dipping and rising to his plod.
I wanted to grow up and plough，
To close one eye， stiffen my arm.
All I ever did was follow
In his broad shadow round the farm.
I was a nuisance，tripping，falling，
Yapping always. But today
It is my father who keeps stumbling
Behind me，and will not go away.
