Gu Cheng - the red sweater

红毛衣

小时候
　　我哭过
　　我要穿红毛衣
　　　　我看见一个小女孩
　　　　穿着它
　　　　在暖洋洋的草原上走
　　　　在淡红的太阳中走
　　　　像一团小小的火焰
　　可是，我没穿
　　因为
　　我是个男孩子
　　　　我有一团
　　　　太阳般的红毛线
　　　　我不会织，而且不敢
　　　　我是男孩子
　　　　我害怕那些会笑的同伴
我永远不能穿红毛衣
　　我哭了
　　因为永远

一九八一.十

The red sweater

When I was small
I have cried
I wanted a red sweater

I had seen a little girl
Who had one
In the warm wide plains, going
In the pale red sun, going
Like a small round flame

But I never wore it
Because
I am a boy

I have a ball
Of wool, red like the sun
I cannot knit, and anyway I would not
I am a boy
I would fear my friends laugh at me

I will never wear a red sweater
And I cried
Because, never

(October 1981)