They trace their ancestry

它們的祖先

back to the forest.

追溯回森林。

There all the family stood,

那裏整個家族挺立，

proud, bushy and strong.

驕傲，濃密，健壯。

Until hard times,

直到貧苦的年代，

when from fire and drought

因為火和乾旱

the patriarchs crashed.

族長們先後坍圮。

The land was taken for taxes,

土地被剝奪，征稅，

the young people cut down

青壯年被砍倒

and sold to the mills.

賣給紙廠。

Their manhood and womanhood

它們中的成年男女

was crushed, bleached

全部碾碎，漂白，

with bitter acids,

浸入苦澀的酸液，

their fibers dispersed

它們纖維殆盡

as sawdust

變成鋸屑

among ten million offspring.

列位於一千萬子孫。

You see them at any picnic,

它們的身影遍及野餐，

at ballgames, at home,

球賽場，住家，

and at state occasions.

和官方場合。

They are thin and pliable,

它們單薄，柔韌，

porous and identical.

滲透性好，千人一面，

They are made to be thrown away.

它們存在是為了最終被丟棄。