Is It Because I Am Black? Poem by Luo Zhihai

★ Is It Because I Am Black?

☆ Poetry by Joseph Seamon Cotter


Why do men smile when I speak,
And call my speech
The whimperings of a babe
That cries but knows not what it wants?
Is it because I am black?

Why do men sneer when I arise
And stand in their councils,
And look them eye to eye,
And speak their tongue?
Is it because I am black?


▲ Chinese Translation

★ 难道因为我是黑人？

☆ [美国] 约瑟夫•席蒙•科特（1861–1919? ） 诗
☆ [中国] 罗志海 (1954-) 译


我说话时为什么男人们大笑
冲着我的演讲大吵大叫
婴儿啜泣，揪心
哭喊，但不知道他想要什么？
难道因为我是黑人？

我出现时为什么男人们冷笑不已
站在他们的议会
看见他们用眼睛互相对视
搅动他们的舌头议论？
难道因为我是黑人？


2015年6月12日翻译
On June 12,2015, Translation