在美国的流亡者

    有这样的词语例如自由

    悦耳动听甜美。

    在我的心弦上自由歌唱

    一天又复一天。

    有这样的词语例如自由

    它几乎使我哭泣。

    如果你了解我的经历

    你将知道原因。

      哈  莱  姆

    推迟的梦会发生什麽事?

    它会干瘪吗

    ˇ阳光下的葡萄干?

    或ˇ疮ˇ化脓ˇˇ

    然后蔓延?

    它ˇ腐肉般发臭?

    或是裹着面包皮和糖ˇˇ

    ˇ果汁甜点?

    也许它只是坠下

    如沉重的负担。

    或者它突然爆炸?

Refugee in America

There are words like Freedom
Sweet and wonderful to say.
On my heart-strings freedom sings
All day everyday.

There are words like Liberty
That almost make me cry'.
If you had known what I knew
You would know why.

Harlem

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a soreˇ
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar overˇ
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?