只为少了一颗钉

□孙建秋 孙建和

For Want of a Nail

For want of a nail,

The shoe was lost,

For want of a shoe,

The horse was lost,

For want of a horse,

The rider was lost,

For want of a rider,

The battle was lost,

For want of a battle,

The kingdom was lost,

And all for the want

Of a horseshoe nail.

因为缺个钉，

丢了马蹄铁；

因为丢了马蹄铁，

战马一去无踪影；

因为缺了马一匹，

骑手到处去谋生；

因为没了好骑手，

就输了这场战争；

因为输掉了战争，

失去了整个王国。

这全都只为缺少了

马掌上的一颗钉。