My Shadow

BY  RO BE RT LO UI S S TE VE NS ON
I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow—

Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.

He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,

And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning, very early, before the sun was up,

I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

Source: The Golden Book of Poetry (1947)

 My Shadow
BY  RO BE RT LO UI S S TE VE NS ON
I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
我有一个小小影子常在我左右
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
他的魔力超乎我想象
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
他从头到脚与我神似
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.
抢先我一步跳上床铺

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow—

最有趣的地方是它的成长方式
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
它不像寻常小孩那样逐渐长大
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
有时候像橡皮球一样蹿得老高
And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.
有时候却畏畏缩缩不见踪影。

He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,

他活泼好动没有章法
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
总有办法让我出丑
He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see;
胆小的他总是在我身后寸步不离
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!
他这样粘着我让我想起粘着保姆时的难堪。

One morning, very early, before the sun was up,

某天清晨，太阳还没露脸
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
我起床发现每颗毛莨都闪着露珠点点
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
但我那慵懒的小影子，就像一个大懒虫
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.
躲在我的身后赖在家里，在床上睡大觉。

Source: The Golden Book of Poetry (1947)