我听见亚美利加在歌唱
I Hear America Singing
惠特曼
Walt Whitman
惠特曼(Walt Whitman,1819-1892),美国十九世纪伟大的民主诗人。他出身贫苦,早年的生活历尽艰辛,当过信差、教师、排字工、编辑等。曾在美国各地流浪,结交各行各业的朋友。1855年出版《草叶集》,以崭新的内容和风格在美国诗坛上别树一帜。《草叶集》此后再版9次之多,每一次再版都添加新的诗篇。他的诗吟唱的是平凡的人和事,表现出对新生的美国的热情歌颂,对民主思想的追求和对社会不公正的批判。在诗歌形式方面他大胆创新,推动了“自由诗体”的发展。
我听见亚美利加在歌唱,我听见各种不同的颂歌;
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
每个机械工人唱着那正应该是他自己的活泼而有力的歌;
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
木匠在量他的厚板或横梁的时候唱着他的歌;
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
泥水匠在预备工作或做完了工作的时候唱着他的歌;
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
船夫在船上唱着属于他的歌,擦甲板的也在轮船的甲板上唱;
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
鞋匠坐在他的长凳上唱,帽匠站着唱;
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,在早晨赶路的时候唱,或者在中午歇脚的时候唱,或者在日落的时候唱;
The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,
母亲的美好的歌声,或是忙碌的年青的妻子的歌声,或是在缝纫或洗衣的女孩的歌声;
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,
每一个人唱着属于他或她而不属于别人的歌;
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
在白天,唱着属于白天的——在夜晚,那强健的、友善的年青人的集团,
The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust , friendly,
张开嘴巴唱着他们的强烈而又和谐的歌。
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.