许其正：冬日民治溪边小立

这条溪的相貌已经改变了

是所谓文明的人工给强制改变的

两岸已改为水泥壁，宽度变窄了

河里的水只差没有干涸掉了

仿佛躺在病床上的瘦弱病人

曾经，这是一条水深宽阔的溪流

曾经，这里有许多游鱼、水鸭

曾经，那岸边有一丛丛水草和翠竹

曾经，我们无限欢欣地在那边游泳

曾经，我们在破埤时成群去抓鱼

那时，我在靠北岸的国小读书

那时，我还是个小孩子

那时，我成天打赤脚到处乱跑

那时，我住的是草茅平房

那时，谁想得到将来自己会怎样

风吹过，雨淋过，而如今呀

说是时代进步了，文明了

可是它却不再是以前的健壮汉子了

反而仿佛是躺在病床上的瘦弱病人

我呀，我这老人能如何？

按：民治溪为贯穿作者故乡潮州的一条溪流，昔日尚可称溪，现在已变貌，虽加了人工建物修饰，却只能称为水沟。

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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