There Came a Day

There Came a Day

There came a day that caught the summer

Wrung its neck

Plucked it

And ate it

Now what shall I do with the trees?

The day said, the day said. 

Strip them bare, strip them bare. 

Let’s see what is really there. 

And what shall I do with the sun?

The day said, the day said.

Roll him away till he’s cold and small.

He’ll come back rested if he comes back at all.

And what shall I do with the birds?

The day said, they day said.

Bury it deep, see what it’s worth.

See if it can stand the earth.

What shall I do with the people?

The day said, the day said.

Stuff them with apple and blackberry pie-

They’ll love me then till the day they die.

There came this day and he was autumn.

His mouth was wide

And red as a sunset.

His tail was an icicle.

Ted Hughes

 点评：古典的强重复，结构整齐，便于孩子理解、背诵，更方便作曲编成歌。这样的诗歌虽然略显幼稚，却永不过时。开篇听起来野蛮血腥，又拧脖子又囫囵吞夏；秋天带着大自然的决断和冷静，给大树小鸟，太阳人类，一一作出安排，细思富有哲理。不强求温暖明媚，正是另辟蹊径的好诗篇。