The Secret Heart暗中的心

Robert P. Tristram Coffin 佚名（译）

Across the years he could recall

His father one way best of all.

In the stillest hour of night

The boy awakened to a light.

Half in dreams， he saw his sire

With his great hands full of fire.

The man had struck a match to see

If his son slept peacefully.

He held his palms each side the spark

His love had kindled in the dark.

His two hands were curved apart

In the semblance of a heart.

父親当年有一事，

多年以后记得真。

已是更深夜正静，

小儿醒来有光明。

梦回时分见老爸，

彤彤红火满手映。

划根火柴仔细瞧，

宝宝是否睡得稳。

巴掌挡在火星旁，

爱火暗中立升腾。

双手拱起作一状，

不似别物只似心。

Robert P. Tristram Coffin （1892—1955）， 是一名美国诗人。在深夜，这首诗里的慈父悄悄看孩子睡着没有，碰巧小孩醒来，看到父亲小心翼翼地护着点燃的火柴，父亲双手拱起，被火光映得红彤彤的手，正像一颗红彤彤的心。多年过去了，这一幕小孩始终记得。此诗语言平实、朴素，但很亲切、感人。亲情就是这样，默默地，悄悄地，一点也不夸张，只是温馨，只是动人。