玛雅·安奇露(Maya Angelou),1928-2014,美国诗人和社会活动家,普利策奖、总统自由奖、国家艺术勋章获得者。
非凡的女人
荔枝/译
美女问我,你有什么秘密?
我不可爱,也没有模特身材。
但我告诉她们,
她们以为我在说谎。
我说:
秘密,在我手臂的长度里,
在我臀部的宽度里,
在我走路的步子里,
在我嘴唇的曲线里。
我是女人,
非凡的。
非凡的女人,
那就是我。
我走进一间屋子,
很酷很酷。
每个男人
或站,或下跪。
围着我团团转
如同一窝蜜蜂。
我说:
秘密,在我眼睛的热情里,
在我牙齿的闪光里,
在我腰肢的扭摆里,
在我双脚的欢乐里。
我是女人,
非凡的。
非凡的女人,
那就是我。
男人也不懂
我究竟好在哪里。
他们好辛苦
却摸不透
我内心的神秘。
我试着告诉他们
他们还是不理解。
我说:
秘密,在我背脊的弯度里,
在我微笑的阳光里,
在我胸部的起伏里,
在我仪表的优雅里。
我是女人,
非凡的。
非凡的女人,
那就是我。
现在你懂了
为什么我不低头
为什么我不叫喊跳跃
或者大声说话。
你看见我走过,
你应该为我自豪。
我说:
秘密,在我鞋跟的着地声里,
在我头发的弯曲里,
在我双手的掌心里,
在你需要的关怀里。
因为我是女人,
非凡的。
非凡的女人,
那就是我。
Phenominal Woman
- Maya Angelou -
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.