燃烧过一天的太阳
渐渐地融化到山那边
田野也歇脚卸担
从油菜花地里
舒出一丝清凉芬芳的气息

放牛的伢仔回来了
赶着大牛牵着小牛
扯着嗓子吆呵着
“收牛了！”
刹时间村前村后
牛仔哞哞找母牛
姆妈呼鸡鸭进笼
婆婆掂着小脚张开臂膀
望着树叉上那晒得黝黑的
小屁股，轻声叫唤
“宝仔，宝仔，小心下来”

她也收工
赤脚劈哩啪啦
踩在松软的田埂上
黑亮的长辩在腰间晃动
一望无际的油菜花
在晚霞中黄得耀眼

她是长女取名招弟
为母亲招来两个弟弟
作田人家的女儿
花一样的年记
村里最标致的黄花闺女

那年她离开了家乡
在村口大樟树下
告别父老乡亲进城做工
母亲的眼角皱纹
凝挤出花一样的微笑
女儿终于吃上了
不是自己种的粮

油菜花开了又落
她回来了
因被人勾引
被工厂开除
那男人的丈母娘
领着一伙人来寻事斗殴
她跳进了那望不到边的
油菜花海
那伙人肆意践踏
开得正旺的油菜花
弄得满身花粉
终于还是没找到她
只好打着喷嚏
垂头丧伤气而去

油菜花开了又谢
喜事办了三天
男人喝酒划拳
女人哭嫁劝亲
孝敬公婆相夫教子
古老的智慧
千年的枷锁
眼泪鼻涕里
一唱一和中
随着她远嫁它乡

油菜花黄了
油菜籽熟了
第二年回娘家
她拎着一罐清油
背着满月的仔仔
外婆眼角的鱼尾纹
又挤出一滴泪花
养子送终
女儿这辈子有靠了

年复一年
油菜花开花落
菜子一粒一颗
晒得干干
压得扁扁
菜油一点一滴
榨干挤净
供人享用

The sun gradually melted down
to the other side of the mountain
leaving the evening sky
a burning orange.
The earth as if having gotten rid of
a heavy burden
blew out a gentle breeze.

The cowherd back from the hills
called the farmers to claim their cattle.
Suddenly in every corner of the village
a symphony began to play
with calves mooing, dogs barking
women calling their chickens and pigs
and their wandering rascals
home for dinner.

She came from the fields
a sea of yellow rape flowers
so bright they hurt your eyes.
She walked on the muddy path
sucking a yellow flower
between her white teeth.

She was the first born
named "begetting brothers"
for girls did not count.
For her name sake
her mother gave her two brothers.

One day she left the village
surrounded by bamboo trees
to work with machines.
Since then her mother's face
wore a smile of content.
Her daughter could now eat rice
not grown by her own hands.

When the yellow flowers bloomed again,
she was fired from plant.
The in-laws of her city seducer
came to seek a fight.
She sought refuge in the sea of the yellow flowers.
They searched for her
from one acre to another
but found themselves drowning
in the sea of yellow flowers.
When they finally got out
they were all dyed yellow.
They went away sneezing
and cursing the yellow flowers.

The yellow flowers withered
the rapeseeds had become ripe.
That year she had to marry
far away from home.
For three days
while male guests feasted
all female relatives came
to cry with her
to teach her all the ancient wisdom
of how to be an obedient wife
and filial daughter-in-law.

The following year after the harvest
she came to visit her mother
a jar of oil on one hand
a chicken on the other
and a new baby boy on her back.
Her mother's wrinkled face
wore a smile again.

Year after year
the yellow flowers bloomed
the rapeseeds were ground down
rich oil squeezed out
for all to consume.