今天是澳大利亚『最伟大的』诗人、作家Henry Lawson146周年诞辰纪念日。评论说他的诗句短小精悍,语言如海明威及卡佛般直接有力。像很多诗人一样,他一生大部分时间都是郁郁寡欢,贫困潦倒,终日酗酒。所幸的是,他最终遇到位赏识他才华、而且同样是诗人的红颜知己。
以下是他一篇著名的短篇On The Edge Of A Plain(发表于1893年5月6日)。
"I'd been away from home for eight years," said Mitchell to his mate, as they dropped their swags in the mulga shade and sat down. "I hadn't written a letter--kept putting it off, and a blundering fool of a fellow that got down the day before me told the old folks that he'd heard I was dead."
Here he took a pull at his water-bag.