You，the Choice of My Parents-你，我双亲的选择
You，the Choice of My Parents
Konai Helu Thaman (科纳伊.赫卢.萨曼)
You come clad in your fine mats and tapa cloth
Your brown skin bursting with fresh perfumed oil
And your eyes shining like stars in a clear night-you， the
choice of my parents.
You will bring them wealth and fame
With your western-type education
And second-hand car.
Yet you do not know me， my prince
Save that I am first-born and have known no other man；
I fit your plans and schemes for the future.
You cannot see the real me
My face is masked with pretence and obedience
And my smiles tell you that I care
I have no other choice.
The priest has left the altar now
And the dancing has begun；
I see myself dying slowly
To family and traditions；
Stripped of its will and carefree spirit，
Naked on the cold and lonely waters
Of a strange family shoreline
Alienated from belonging truly.
I love as a mere act of duty
My soul is far away
Clinging to that familiar ironwood tree
That heralds strangers
To the land of my ancestors.
I will bear you a son
To prolong your family tree
And fill the gaps in your genealogy.
But when my duties are fulfilled
My spirit will return to the land of my birth
Where you will find me no more
Except for the weeping willows along the shore.
你，我双亲的选择
译者 / 汪颖
你裹着精制席子和塔帕布走来。
你那褐色皮肤散发新涂油的香气，
一对眼睛闪亮如净夜的星星。
你，是我双亲的选择。
用你所受的西方教育
和旧货店买来的轿车
你将为他们带来财富和名声。
可你还是不了解我，我的王子
除了我是长女，不曾结识过其他男子；
我适合你未来的计划方案。
你不可能看到真正的我，
我戴着装假和恭顺的面具，
我的微笑告诉你我挺烦恼。
我没有别的选择。
牧师已经离开祭坛，
舞会已经开始；
我看到我自己正为
家庭和传统而慢慢死去；
剥夺了意志和无虑精神
裸露在一个陌生家族海岸边
寒冷而寂寥的波涛上，
与真正的归宿间隔乖离。
我爱，只是尽一种义务。
我的灵魂却在远处
抱着那棵熟悉的木质坚实的树
它预示着陌生人
来到我祖先的土地。
我将为你生个儿子，
好传宗接代
填上你家谱的空缺。
我可在完成任务之后
我的灵魂将回到生我的故土
——你再也找不到我，
除了沿岸的株株垂杨。
