奉獻樹

奉獻樹

從前有一棵樹，喜愛一個男孩。
在她那裏玩耍，男孩每天都來：
在樹枝上晃盪，在樹蔭裏靜躺，
歡笑中送走夏季的時光。
於是他們這樣互相喜愛。
啊，樹感到高興。
啊，樹感到愉快。
男孩很快長大了，有天他來對樹講：
「樹啊，能給我點錢嗎？買一點我中意的東西。」
「我沒有錢」，樹說，「只有蘋果、樹枝和樹葉。」
「但是男孩，你可以拿我的蘋果到城裏去買。」
於是他把樹的蘋果拿去賣。
啊，樹感到高興。
啊，樹感到愉快。
但不久男孩又回來，他對樹說：
「我現在是個男子漢，必須有一間房，那是我整個的家園。」
「我不能給你一間房子」，樹說，「森林是我的房子。」
「但你可以砍下我的樹枝，自己去建一個家園。 」
於是他把樹的枝條砍下來。
啊，樹感到高興。
啊，樹感到愉快。
時光過得快，男孩走回來，眼裏帶著悲哀。
「我的生活變得冷冷清清」，他說，「我要我的日子陽光燦爛。」
「我甚麼也沒有了，只剩下樹幹」，
她說，「但你可以把它砍下來，自己造一隻船去揚帆。」
於是他砍下了樹的樹幹。
啊，樹感到高興。
啊，樹感到愉快。
多少年後男孩走回來，他們雙方都已經老邁。
「我真的幫不了你，如果你再向我要一個禮。」
「我現在只是一截老樹樁。真對不起，我別無東西給你。」
「我現在已經不需要太多了，只要一個安靜地方休息休息，」
那個男孩，他竊竊低語，帶著困乏的笑意。
「那就好」，樹說，「一截老樹樁還能管用。」
「來吧，男孩」，她說，「坐下來，坐下來休息一會兒。」
於是他坐在樹樁上休息。
啊，樹感到愉快。
啊，樹感到高興。


THE GIVING TREE
 
Once there was a tree who loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come to play
Swinging from the branches, sleeping in the shade
Laughing all the summer’s hours away.
And so they love,
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.
But soon the boy grew older and one day he came and said,
"Can you give me some money, tree, to buy something I’ve found?"
"I have no money," said the tree, "Just apples, twigs and leaves."
"But you can take my apples, boy, and sell them in the town."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.
But soon again the boy came back and he said to the tree,
"I’m now a man and I must have a house that’s all my home."
"I can’t give you a house" she said, "The forest is my house."
"But you may cut my branches off and build yourself a home"
And so he did.
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.
And time went by and the boy came back with sadness in his eyes.
"My life has turned so cold," he says, "and I need sunny days."
"I’ve nothing but my trunk," she says, "But you can cut it down
And build yourself a boat and sail away."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.
And after years the boy came back, both of them were old.
"I really cannot help you if you ask for another gift."
"I’m nothing but an old stump now. I’m sorry but I’ve nothing more
to give"
"I do not need very much now, just a quiet place to rest,"
The boy, he whispered, with a weary smile.
"Well", said the tree, "An old stump is still good for that."
"Come, boy", he said, "Sit down, sit down and rest a while."
And so he did and
Oh, the trees was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

謝爾．西爾維斯坦(Shel Silverstein) (1930-1999)，美國著名兒童作家、劇作家、卡通畫家、歌曲(詞、曲)作家和歌手。他從12-14歲時就開始寫作。五十年代參軍去過日本和朝鮮。他寫作並自己插畫的兒童故事「奉獻樹」(The Giving Tree)被視為美國當代兒童文學的經典。
/正見網