Conversation between Poet and Wife
“You're an idiot1 who thinks he's a genius, understand?”
“I understand, honey, but why throw it in my face? Don't I have the right to console myself a little by thinking I'm a genius?”
“I can't stand it any longer...”
“Please don't cry, honey; you make me feel miserable2. It's true, I think myself a genius but I've never told anyone.”
“Are you going to put an ad3 in the paper saying you're a genius? You don't have to advertise it. It's quite obvious4 in everything you do, even in the way you blow your cigarette smoke. You look down on everyone, consider them beneath you. You walk, cough and sneeze5 like a genius.”
“Who does my being a genius harm?”
“Me. Our home. Our children. The government doesn't provide a salary for everyone who thinks he's a genius. When I say I'm a genius's wife they won't give me food free at the grocer's6. It's winter and we still haven't been able to buy wood and coal. And my slippers leak7.”
“Please don't cry, honey. I'm not idle8. I work all the time. I've already had four books of poems published.”
“Hmph! It wouldn't help if it were forty-four!”
“As if I don't suffer for this too! Don't I want to write my masterpiece and win fame, have my books sell by the tens of thousands, be translated into every language, and become rich? Fame and fortune! Some day they'll most certainly come! Only being a genius isn't enough. As long as there are no earth-shaking9 events, what can a genius do? I'm awaiting some great event which will affect me, that will inspire10 me, that will throw my spirit into turmoil11 and force me to write my masterpiece. I need great events. You tell me to swim in dishwater12! I can't swim a stroke in an aquarium13. I must have oceans. I'm waiting for that great happening. But please don't cry anymore, honey. I beg you, don't cry. Grit your teeth14 a little longer; a little more patience. I await that great event which will create a tempest15 in my spirit. Have a little more patience, honey.”
诗人与妻子之间的对话
“你以为你是天才？你是白痴！你懂不懂？”
“我懂，亲爱的。不过，为什么要用它来责备我？难道我连想象自己是个天才、稍稍自我安慰的权利也没有吗？”
“我再也受不了啦……”
“求你不要哭， 亲爱的，你令我感到难过。是的，我觉得自己是天才，可我从来没对任何人说过。”
“难道你还准备在报纸上刊登广告说自己是天才不成？你用不着登广告，你的一举一动都表现得很明显，甚至你喷云吐雾的样子都不例外。你谁也看不起，认为谁都不如你。你走路、咳嗽、打喷嚏的样子都像天才。”
“我是天才碍着谁了吗？”
“碍着我了，还有我们的家，我们的孩子。政府又不会给自以为是天才的人发工资；在食品杂货店我说我是天才的老婆，人家也不会白送我食物。已经是冬天啦，我们还买不起木柴和煤。我的拖鞋也裂口子啦。”
“求求你不要哭，亲爱的。我也没闲着，我一直在工作，我已经出版了四本诗集了。”
“哼！即使出版四十四本也无济于事！”
“好像我不是同样受煎熬似的！莫非我不想写出杰作成名，让我的书成千上万地卖，译成世界上各种语言，一下子变得富有吗？名和利！终有一天这一切都会到来！仅仅是天才还不够。但是只要没有惊天动地的大事发生，天才又怎能发挥呢？我正在等待某件重大事情来打动我，给予我灵感，令我心潮澎湃，促使我写出杰作来。我需要大事件。你让我在洗碗水里游泳！我在鱼缸里一下都游不了，我需要的是大洋。我在等待那桩大事发生。可请你不要再哭啦，亲爱的。我求你啦，不要哭啦。咬咬牙再坚持一下，再忍耐一下。我等待会在我脑中产生巨大创作灵感的大事发生。再忍耐一下，亲爱的。”
1. idiot n． 白痴，愚人
2． miserable adj． 痛苦的，悲惨的
3． ad＝ advertisement n． 广告 advertise v． 登广告
4． obvious adj． 明显的
5． sneeze [sni:z] v． 打喷嚏
6． grocer n． 杂货店
7． slippers leak 拖鞋渗水 slipper n． 拖鞋 leak v． 漏
8． idle adj． 空闲的，懒惰的
9． earth－shaking adj． 惊天动地的
10． inspire v． 感动，激发
11． turmoil n． 骚动，混乱
12． dishwater n． 洗碗水
13． I can＇t swim a stroke in an aquarium． 我在鱼缸里一下都划不了。
stroke n． (划船、游泳的)一划 aquarium n． 养鱼池，玻璃缸
14． grit one＇s teeth 咬咬牙 grit [grit] v． 摩擦， 研磨
15． tempest n． 暴风雨，动乱