The Happy Prince
High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.
He was very much admired indeed.'He is as beautiful as a weathercock,' remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic taste; 'only not quite so useful,' he added, fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he really was not.
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One night there flew over the city a little Swallow. His friends had gone away to Egypt six weeks before, but he had stayed behind, for he was in love with the most beautiful Reed. He had met her early in the spring as he was flying down the river after a big yellow moth, and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to her.
'Shall I love you said the Swallow', who liked to come to the point at once, and the Reed made him a low bow. So he flew round and round her, touching the water with his wings, and making silver ripples. This was his courtship, and it lasted all through the summer.
'It is a ridiculous attachment,' twittered the other Swallows, 'she has no money, and far too many relations;' and indeed the river was quite full of Reeds. Then, when the autumn came, they all flew away.
After they had gone he felt lonely, and began to tire of his lady-love. 'She has no conversation,' he said, 'and I am afraid that she is a coquette, for she is always flirting with the wind.' And certainly, whenever the wind blew, the Reed made the most graceful curtsies. I admit that she is domestic,' he continued, 'but I love travelling, and my wife, consequently, should love travelling also.'
'Will you come away with me?' he said finally to her; but the Reed shook her head, she was so attached to her home.
'You have been trifling with me,' he cried, 'I am off to the Pyramids. Good-bye!' and he flew away.
All day long he flew, and at night-time he arrived at the city. 'Where shall I put up?' he said 'I hope the town has made preparations.'
Then he saw the statue on the tall column. 'I will put up there,' he cried; 'it is a fine position with plenty of fresh air.' So he alighted just between the feet of the Happy Prince.
他愛上ㄧ株與風調情、沒有錢，河邊到處都是的、蘆葦。
他愛上一株風姿綽約、不懂對話，在秋天終會枯萎的、蘆葦。
只因為美。
秋天來了同伴走了
他邀蘆葦：
「我愛旅行，親愛的妻子呀，
跟我去旅行？」
蘆葦搖搖頭，她固著在家，
他哭著說：
那我要去埃及，看金字塔了，再會！」
他飛到城鎮廣場中央
高聳的圓柱上 休憩
他想呼吸ㄧ點新鮮空氣
就在快樂王子雕像的腳邊.........
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我抬起頭，放下手上攤開的書，靜靜的說：
「大家都說你是同性戀者，所以，才會讓燕子愛上快樂王子？」
王爾德慧詰地看著我，回問：「妳說呢？」
「噢，如果蘆葦願意旅行，如果蘆葦可以談心，燕子會一輩子和她攜手，ㄧ起環遊世界旅行，一起談天說地，他不會離棄。呵呵，不過，這樣的話，他就遇不到快樂王子了.....」
王爾德哈哈大笑起來：「妳很聰明！」
他停了半餉........問：「莫非妳愛旅行？」
我慧詰的看著他：「你說呢？」
他有些激動：「妳，願意和我ㄧ起去看金字塔？」
我闔上書，微笑著：「why not ?! 」
初秋的蘆葦在河邊搖曳，微風吹。
午后的陽光彩耀著雲，.....天很藍，
是誰，愛上了誰？
附記：20120908的午後，驅車從知本校區回家的路上，午后4點半的斜陽，仍艷。
我瞥見ㄧ叢美麗的蘆葦。停車，拍照。
想起了穿著華服，特立獨行，在入境美國海關時，哼笑著說：「除了天才，我沒有什麼可以申報」的王爾德。
那一隻愛美、那一隻酷愛自由旅行、那一隻為真誠動心的燕子.......
