圣尼古拉来访

by Michelle Obama

Twas the night before Christmas， when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring， not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care，

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds，

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her kerchief， and I in my cap，

Had just settled down for a long winters nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter，

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash，

Tore open the shutters and threw up the 1）sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When， what to my wondering eyes should appear，

But a miniature sleigh， and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver， so lively and quick，

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came，

And he whistled， and shouted， and called them by name！

“Now， Dasher！ Now， Dancer！ Now， Prancer and Vixen！

On， Comet！ On， Cupid！ On， Donner and Blitzen！

To the top of the porch！ To the top of the wall！

Now dash away！ Dash away！ Dash away all！”

As dry leaves that before the wild 2）hurricane fly，

When they meet with an obstacle， mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew，

With the sleigh full of toys， and St. Nicholas too.

And then， in a twinkle， I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head， and was turning around，

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur， from his head to his foot，

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back，

And he looked like a peddler， just opening his sack.

His eyes—how they twinkled！ His dimples how merry！

His cheeks were like roses， his nose like a cherry！

His 3）droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow，

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth，

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook when he laughed， like a bowl full of jelly！

He was chubby and plump， a right jolly old elf，

And I laughed when I saw him， in spite of myself！

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head，

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word， but went straight to his work，

And filled all the stockings， then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose，

And giving a nod， up the chimney he rose！

He sprang to his sleigh， to his team gave a whistle，

And away they all flew like the down of a 4）thistle.

But I heard him exclaim， 5）ere he drove out of sight，

“Merry Christmas to all， and to all a good-night！”

在圣诞前夜，整个屋子里

无一生灵在吵，就连老鼠也不闹。

长筒袜被小心地挂到烟囱旁，

期望圣尼古拉快快来到。

孩子们都被舒适地安顿到床上，

可脑子里还有糖球儿在跳跃。

妈妈裹起头巾，我戴上睡帽，

我们刚定下神来要睡个冬天的长觉。

这时外面的草地上传来咔嗒的声响，

我从床上跳起去看个究竟。

我扑向窗户，快得像一道闪光，

扯开百页窗又拉起窗框。

只见月光洒在新雪的胸膛上，

给月下的万物披上晌午的光芒。

这时竟出现了使我目瞪口呆的景象，

那是八只小鹿拉着小小雪橇一辆。

驾雪橇的小老头，行动灵活又迅速，

我马上就明白他一定是圣尼克。

他的骏鹿跑起来赛过雄鹰，

他吹着口哨，大声吆喝着它们的名字！

“嘿，冲锋者达舍！嘿，舞者丹瑟！

嘿，腾飞侠普兰舍，还有悍妇维克星！

前进啊，彗星科米特！前进啊，爱神丘比特！

前进啊，雷霆唐德和闪电布利森！

冲上门廊，冲向墙头！

嘿，冲呀，冲呀，一起给我冲啊！”

就像枯叶在飓风中飞舞，

遇到阻碍就升向天空。

驯鹿们飞上了屋顶，

拉着装满玩具的雪橇，还有圣尼古拉。

转眼之间我就听到屋顶

有小蹄子腾跃踢踏的响声。

当我缩回头来转过身，

看见圣尼古拉从烟囱跃下现身。

他全身上下都裹着毛皮装，

衣服上蹭满烟灰，失去了华光。

背后还扛着一包玩具，

看起来就像正在开包的小商贩。

他的眼睛——如此闪闪发光！他的酒涡充满欢乐！他的两颊红似玫瑰，他的鼻子就如樱桃！

他那滑稽的小嘴咧开着，就像一张弓，

下巴上的胡子洁白如雪。

他的牙间紧咬着一个烟斗，

白烟就像花环绕着他的头。

他的脸庞宽宽，肚子圆圆，

笑起来，肚子就像一碗抖动的果冻。

他身形圆圆胖胖，是个不折不扣的快活老顽童，

我看到他时情不自禁地笑起来！

他转过头向我眨眨眼，

一下就让我知道无须惊慌。

他一声不吭就去干活了，

把每只长袜装满就急忙转身。

他把手指放在鼻子旁，

点点头又上了烟囱！

他跃上雪橇，向他的鹿队吹了声哨，

他们就像蓟花的绒毛一样轻飘飘地飞走。

在他驾着雪橇走远前，我听到他大喊：

“大家圣诞快乐！诸位晚安！”

赏析

每到圣诞前夜，孩子们把长筒袜放到床边，然后美美地睡下，等待矮矮胖胖的圣诞老人从烟囱上跳下来，把自己的袜子填满……这个圣诞前夜的习俗流传已久，但你或许并不知道其由来与一位名叫克莱门特·克拉克·穆尔（1779─1863）的圣经学教授有关。相传穆尔在1822年12月24日，为他的孩子写下这首名为《A Visit From St. Nicholas》（又称《Twas the Night Before Christmas》）的经典诗作，随后匿名发表，引起广泛回响，并且广为传抄。自此这个“穿红衣、驾雪橇”的崭新圣诞老人形象便深入人心。时至今日，在圣诞前夜给孩子朗读这首诗仍然是许多美国家庭保留的传统。

圣诞节是世界上影响最大、流传最广的节日。当人们兴高采烈地欢庆圣诞时，那些关于圣诞的传说更透出一份温馨和神圣的光芒。年岁日长，我们终会明白圣诞老人并不存在，愿望也并非靠祈祷就能成真，但我们依然愿意把这份纯朴和天真传给孩子们，在他们心中播下善良的种子。圣诞的钟声又响起，让我们再一次默念心中的期盼：世界和平，好人一生平安！翻译、赏析：未几