最近看到一個美國兒童詩人的作品，喜歡得不得了，跑去把他的詩集都買了來（當然是舊書）。謝爾·希爾弗斯坦（Shel Silverstain 1932-1999）是美國著名的詩人，創作歌手，作曲家，插畫家等等。他為兒童寫了許多詩，得到全世界喜愛。 

      I WON’T HATCH  ( 我不願孵出來)

Oh I am a chicken who lives in an egg,
But I will not hatch, I will not hatch.
The hens they all cackle, the roosters all beg,
But I will not hatch, I will not hatch.
For I hear all the talk of pollution and war
As the people all shout and the airplanes roar,
So I’m staying in here where it’s safe and it’s warm,
And I WILL NOT HATCH! 

小雞聽說世界上有這麼多危險都不願離開它的殼了。

             The trap （陷阱）

Let us set a little trap for the Grinch, Grinch, Grinch.

We can catch him if we wait, wait, wait.

I shall be the hunter, and bold, bold, bold,

And you shall be the bait, bait, bait bait.

 Grinch 是兒童小說中人物，性情乖戾，暴躁，所以他說你去把它引來吧，哈

       . HAPPY ENDING?

There are no happy endings.
Endings are the saddest part,
So just give me a happy middle
And a very happy start. 

好，不要endings。

FALLING UP (我朝上摔了一跤)

I tripped on my shoelace
And I fell up—
Up to the roof tops,
Up over the town,
Up past the tree tops,
Up over the mountains,
Up where the colors
Blend into the sounds.
But it got me so dizzy
When I looked around,
I got sick to my stomach
And I threw down. 

想象力太豐富了

THE EDGE OF THE WORLD （世界的盡頭）

Columbus said the world is round?
Don’t you believe a word of that.
For I’ve been down to the edge of the world,
Sat on the edge where the wild wind whirled,
Peeked over the ledge where the blue smoke curls,
And I can tell you, boys and girls,
The world is FLAT! 

原來地球是扁平的是從他那兒來的。

God’s Wheel ( 上帝的方向盤)

GOD says to me with a kind
of smile, "Hey how would you like
to be God awhile And steer the world?"
"Okay," says I, "I'll give it a try.

Where do I set?
How much do I get?
What time is lunch?
When can I quit?"

"Gimme back that wheel," says GOD.
"I don't think you're quite ready YET."

Gimme= give me. 這首比較正能量。

    Listen to the Mustn’ts ( 聽聽那些“不許”吧)

Listen to Mustn'ts, child, listen to the Don'ts.
Listen to the Shouldn'ts, the Impossibles, the Won'ts.
Listen to the Never Haves, then listen close to me.
Anything can happen, child, Anything can be. 

美國兒童的教育是這樣的。

後記：

I feel more miserable after I read Shel , how come I can’t write as good as you.