和朋友谈英文诗
不管用什么语言写，诗大概都有共性，古体诗多讲工整对仗和押韵，而现代诗就不那么讲究。我会的语言不多，一门母语就是中文或汉语，两名外语, 都很蹩脚，一门勉强可以交流，另一门勉强可以读听。从现代诗的角度看，三种语言都差不多，就是比较随便，有点像把以前的散文，写短一点，从新排列一下，就发出去，这种形式其实也不错，可以让诗人的思想不受束缚，让诗像泉水一样向外面涌。
虽然说像是散文，但又比散文更难懂一些，这是因为写散文的人的思维过程很有逻辑性，和正常人差不多，所以作品比较通俗易懂，但诗人的思维和正常人稍微有点不同，诗人常常不循正常的逻辑而思维，有时是跳跃式，有时是抛物线式，有时是不知是什么式，所以作品（现代诗）比散文更难懂。
也是，如果和散文一样好懂不就是散文了吗？如果这样作者也不能被称为是诗人，而是叫散文家，那多没有光芒呀，还有可能就是这些诗人没有真正的散文家写得好，这样就不免有些尴尬，虽然没有人家写的好，又不肖与之为伍，所以只有叫现代诗人了。
我读的英文诗不多，这里讲的应该是自己对看过的一些现代诗的印象，因为不多，所以观察或感觉就像是盲人摸象，而且我肯定是摸到大象的尾巴尖了。因为读的不多，所以连代表作都很难找出来，下面是今天看的一首英文诗，是个小有名气的索马里裔美国女诗人写的，看了觉得有点像说话，又有点像散文，但就是不怎么像诗。而且我不懂她在表达些什么，我以为是我的语言理解能力欠佳，找了一个美国朋友看了一小，她笑着摇了摇头，说她也不知所云，但承认她对诗不感兴趣！
Boat Journey
Sunday afternoon on a city beach.No sand, slabs of manufactured stone.I watch two blondes, maybe sisters,Inflate a raft. They use a bicycle pump.One tries to assemble two paddles,Gives up, puts them in her bag.The one on the pump removes her top.She has exerted herself into better posture.Her breasts are larger than I expected.I want to see if their tiny raft will hold them.The clouds and current move north.As they enter the water, Tony Allen warnsAgainst the boat journey: Running awayFrom a misery / Find yourself in a double misery.I recall photos of British tourists in GreeceFrowning at refugees,Greek children in gym class while hungry.In the direction the raft floats, the sistersPaddling with their hands, a planetarium.I wonder if it houses a telescope capableOf seeing the double misery on a Greek island.Maybe its lens is too powerful.The side of their raft reads EXPLORER.Their soles are black. If you pay attentionTo movies, white women have grimy soles.I have seen black actresses with exquisite feet.I recall my mother checking my socksIn the exam room before the doctor entered.The sisters let their ponytails dragIn dubious lake water.I’m not sure I hear these lyrics: Even ifThey let you enter / They probably won’t let you.Even if they let you enter / The baron won’t let you,The baron won’t let you.I note their appearances,Takeoff point. Just in case.I doubt any of our thoughts converge.What is it like to be so free?To drift in water in a country you callYour own. Unprepared because you can laughInto an official’s face. Explain, offer no apology.
