只為少了一顆釘

□孫建秋 孫建和

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.

因為缺個釘，

丟了馬蹄鐵；

因為丟了馬蹄鐵，

戰馬一去無蹤影；

因為缺了馬一匹，

騎手到處去謀生；

因為沒了好騎手，

就輸了這場戰爭；

因為輸掉了戰爭，

失去了整個王國。

這全都只為缺少了

馬掌上的一顆釘。