美文阅读 （153）献给父亲的诗 昨日
My friend says I was not a good son, you understand
一个朋友说我不是个好儿子，你明白的，
I say yes I understand
我说，是的，我明白
he says I did not go to see my parents very often you know
他说我并没有经常去看看我的父母，你知道的
and I say yes I know
我说，是的，我知道
even when I was living in the same city he says
即使当我跟他们同住在一个城市时，他说
maybe I would go there once a month or maybe even less, I say oh yes
也许我一个月甚至更长时间才去看他们一次，我说，嗯，是的
he says the last time I went to see my father
他说上次我去见我父亲
I say the last time I saw my father
我说上次我见到我父亲
he says the last time I saw my father
他说上次我见到我父亲
he was asking me about my life, how I was making out
他一边问我过得怎么样，问我奋斗得怎么样
and he went into the next room to get something to give me
他一边走进隔壁房间，去拿点什么东西送给我
oh I say, feeling again the cold of my father’s hand the last time
嗯，我说，又一次感觉到我父亲手上的寒冷，最后一次
he says and my father turned in the doorway and saw me
他说，我父亲转向门口，他看见我
look at my wristwatch and he said you know I would like you to stay and talk with me
在看手表，于是他说你知道的，我很希望你能多待一会跟我聊聊
oh yes I say, but if you are busy he said
嗯，是的，我说，不过要是你忙，他说
I don’t want you to feel that you have to just because I’m here
我不希望你觉得你就非得待着，就因为我在这儿
I say nothing
我什么都没说
he says my father said maybe you have important work you are doing
他说，我父亲说，也许你有正经事情要去做
or maybe you should be seeing somebody I don’t want to keep you
或者你要去见什么人，我不想留着你
I look out the window, my friend is older than I am
我望向窗外，这个朋友比我年长
he says and I told my father it was so
他说，于是我告诉我父亲确实如此
and I got up and left him then, you know
然后我就起身丢下了他，你知道，
though there was nowhere I had to go and nothing I had to do
只是我并没有什么地方要去，并没有什么事要做。