作品原文

闻一多 《死水》

这是一沟绝望的死水，
清风吹不起半点漪沦。
不如多扔些破铜烂铁，
爽性泼你的剩菜残羹。

也许铜的要绿成翡翠，
铁罐上绣出几瓣桃花；
在让油腻织一层罗绮，
霉菌给他蒸出些云霞。

让死水酵成一沟绿酒，
漂满了珍珠似的白沫；
小珠们笑声变成大珠，
又被偷酒的花蚊咬破。

那么一沟绝望的死水，
也就夸得上几分鲜明。
如果青蛙耐不住寂寞，
又算死水叫出了歌声。

这是一沟绝望的死水，
这里断不是美的所在，
不如让给丑恶来开垦，
看他造出个什么世界。

英文译文

The Stagnant Ditch
Wen Yiduo

This is a ditch of hopeless, stagnant water
No breeze can ruffle;
Better throw in more junk and scrap,
Pour in slops and garbage.

Brass may take on an emerald patina,
Tin cans may rust in a pattern of peach petals;
Let scum weave a gauzy veil over the whole
And bacteria generate evening clouds.

Let the stagnant water ferment, become green wine,
Flecked with white foam like pearls;
The sniggering of small pearls makes large pearls
To be bitten and broken by bibulous mosquitoes.

Thus such a ditch of hopeless, stagnant water
May boast a certain novelty;
And if lonely frogs break the silence,
To all intents the stagnant water is singing.

This is a ditch of hopeless, stagnant water;
This, beyond doubt, is no abode of Beauty;
Better let the Demon of Ugliness plough it up
And see what he can make of it.