許其正：冬日民治溪邊小立

這條溪的相貌已經改變了

是所謂文明的人工給強制改變的

兩岸已改為水泥壁，寬度變窄了

河裡的水只差沒有乾涸掉了

彷彿躺在病床上的瘦弱病人

曾經，這是一條水深寬闊的溪流

曾經，這裡有許多游魚、水鴨

曾經，那岸邊有一叢叢水草和翠竹

曾經，我們無限歡欣地在那邊游泳

曾經，我們在破埤時成群去抓魚

那時，我在靠北岸的國小讀書

那時，我還是個小孩子

那時，我成天打赤腳到處亂跑

那時，我住的是草茅平房

那時，誰想得到將來自己會怎樣

風吹過，雨淋過，而如今呀

說是時代進步了，文明了

可是它卻不再是以前的健壯漢子了

反而彷彿是躺在病床上的瘦弱病人

我呀，我這老人能如何？

按：民治溪為貫穿作者故鄉潮州的一條溪流，昔日尚可稱溪，現在已變貌，雖加了人工建物修飾，卻只能稱為水溝。

Standing in Winter for a While Beside Minzhi River Hsu ChiCheng

The river has been changed

It is changed by the so-called human force

The two banks have been cemented, and is hence narrowed

Water in it is nearly dry

Like a bedridden patient who is weakened

Once, it was a river that ran deep and wide

Once, it was alive with fishes and ducks

Once, the banks were green with grass and bamboos

Once, we swam joyously in it

Once, we caught a host of fishes during the flood discharge

At that time, I was studying at the primary school to the north bank

At that time, I was a small child

At that time, I ran about barefooted

At that time, I was living in a thatched house

At that time, how could I predict my future

It was drizzling, the wind was blowing, and now

It is said social progress is made, and we are more civilized

But the river is strong and sturdy no more

But like a bedridden patient who is weakened

O my, how can I, an old man, do about it?

Remark: Minzhi River is a river running through Chauchou, Pingtung County, the poet’s native place. A running river of yore, but now no water to run any more, though it has been renovated.

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