So Says The Peacock Poem by Denis Mair

Take a look at this ornament. How does it make you feel?

See how my eyespots can gather you in from all angles. See how kaleidoscopically I enjoy the beauty of your crest from all compass points of my tail.

With all these eyes I know where the best seeds are. Come and I can show you the best forage spots.

All my eyespots sway gently in the breeze. Imagine how we will gaze together on the perfect garden!

The refracted light from my feathers gives an appearance of liquid depth. My neck-color reminds you of a pond seen through the trees at twilight, or your nighttime hideaway in a thicket.

My tail feathers snap closed, then suddenly fan out again. I've been told the sensory effect can be overwhelming.

It takes a lot of testosterone to keep these feathers growing long and bright. It's said that testosterone in my blood increases my risk of infection. But I have a strong enough constitution to parade these feathers before you.

If you select a well-ornamented specimen like me, you can feel rest assured: many peahens in the future will be hypnotized by the tails of our sons. As their father, I'll give them this gorgeous advantage.

Even the humans who keep this garden have taken a cue from us. (That poet in L.A. who calls himself Bowerbird has the right idea.) Ludicrous apes, they suppose that with gibbering sounds they can mimic the effect of our resplendent tails!

..........


Thanks to Wang Hao for translating this poem into Chinese:

孔雀这样说


看看这装饰，你目不转睛，是吧？

看我的眼点怎样从各个角度把你收到眼底。看我怎样像万花筒一样从我尾巴的各方位来欣赏你冠毛的美丽。

有了这些眼点，我们肯定能找到最好的种子。来吧我会告诉你我最喜爱的觅食点。

所有眼点在微风中轻轻摆动。想想我们将怎样一起注视这完美的花园！

我的羽毛映射的光会显出一种液体的深度。我脖颈的颜色让你想起黄昏时透过树丛看到的水潭，或是你夜间在树丛中藏身的地方。

我的尾羽啪地收起，又突然打开；有人告诉我这感官效果能震慑人心。

要很多睾丸激素才能让这些羽毛生长得又长又亮。据说我血液中的睾丸激素让我容易染病，但是我体格强壮，足以把这些羽毛展现在你眼前。

如果你选择像我一样装饰华丽的样本，请放心，将来你儿子的尾巴会迷倒很多母孔雀。作为他们的父亲，我会给予他们这华丽的优势。

即便管理这花园的人类也从我们这里得到提示。（洛杉矶那位自称"园丁鸟"的诗人想得没错。）滑稽的猿类，他们以为用叽叽喳喳的声音就能模仿我们光辉灿烂的尾巴的效果！

中译：王浩