老榆树

樊功生

村头那棵老榆树

叶子一年比一年少

枯蒌的枝杆从没人修理

呆呆地往上伸着

只有树杆上的那个洞

像神秘的眼睛

永远睁开着

守卫着这片土地... 

前面有一块空地

上工前说个事

晒晒谷子什么的

农闲时会拉个银幕放电影

孩子们喜欢爬上树

偎依在枝杈上

就像躺在爸妈的怀里

年轻人都出门打工了

没什么人来陪老榆树了

它衰老得越发快起来

那个黝黑的树洞

也被吹进了很多泥沙

暗淡了

伤心了

有时还流出泪一般的液体... 

今天电话上偶尔想起来：

-- 老榆树还在吗？

对面是个微弱但兴奋的声音：

-- 还在  还在

在村头等你们回来呐... 

Old Elm

By Ken Fan 

The elm tree 

at the entrance of the village 

Is getting old every year. 

Withered branches, never trimmed,

Extend upwardly, stiff and dull.

Only that deep hole on the trunk,

Like a mysterious eyeball,

Wide open,

Vigilently guarding the territory. 

In its front there's a flat ground,

Where villagers gather before each day's work,

Or is used for drying the grains.

Between busy seasons,

A movie or two might be shown here, 

And some kids would climb up the elm tree, 

Cradled against thick branches, 

As if they were parent's arms. 

Young people all went to work elsewhere, 

And few came to be with the tree now,

Which deteriorates even faster.

That dark hole is also filled with dirt.

Looking darker and sadder. 

Some fluid even drips from there,

Like tears.

On the phone today,

It came to the thought,

-- is the old elm tree still there?

-- yes, yes!

A feeble but animated voice on the other side,

-- still waiting for you boys at the village entrance!