它們的祖先

They trace their ancestry

追溯回森林。

back to the forest.

那裏整個家族挺立，

There all the family stood,

驕傲，濃密，健壯。

proud, bushy and strong.

直到貧苦的年代，

Until hard times,

因為火和乾旱

when from fire and drought

族長們先後坍圮。

the patriarchs crashed.

土地被剝奪，征稅，

The land was taken for taxes,

青壯年被砍倒

the young people cut down

賣給紙廠。

and sold to the mills.

它們中的成年男女

Their manhood and womanhood

全部碾碎，漂白，

was crushed, bleached

浸入苦澀的酸液，

with bitter acids,

它們纖維殆盡

their fibers dispersed

變成鋸屑

as sawdust

列位於一千萬子孫。

among ten million offspring.

它們的身影遍及野餐，

You see them at any picnic,

球賽場，住家，

at ballgames, at home,

和官方場合。

and at state occasions.

它們單薄，柔韌，

They are thin and pliable,

滲透性好，千人一面，

porous and identical.

它們存在是為了最終被丟棄。

They are made to be thrown away.