Reading The Potato Eaters

Oil on canvas, 1885
His heart going deeper into Village Nuenen

The sharp-eyed Van Gogh chooses the simple things

To begin with
A spread of light, from above the head, dimly

Illuminates a heap of simple potatoes

Illuminating the resigned expression on the faces of the potato eaters

Illuminating, too, their hands holding the potatoes

In the process of eating

In the family of the poor
This is the order of the world

In which they have to work, putting their hands in the earth

To dig the potatoes out by day, in the same gesture

And to retreat to the thatched hut, sitting around the wooden table

All hands held towards the plate enabling the

Pained potatoes to begin telling

Of the lives of the poor
While you, the potato eaters, truly

Enjoy food from the earth

As thin-faced Van Gogh sees the heart of the village

Leap from the canvas into

The eyes of the world


读《吃土豆的人》

1885年 布面油画
深入纽南乡村的心脏

目光敏锐的凡高，选择从一些朴素的

事物身上动笔
一片暗淡地，从头顶打下来的光

把一堆简单的土豆照亮

把吃土豆者，一脸听天由命的神情照亮

也把他们捏土豆的手

照亮在一家穷人

吃土豆的过程中
这是世界的秩序

他们必须劳动着，从泥土里下手

必须用同一种姿势，白天把土豆刨出来

必须退回草屋，围坐在木桌旁

所有伸进盘子里的手，会让有些

疼感的土豆，开始叙述

穷人的生活
吃土豆的人，当你们真实地

享用着大地上的食物时

脸颊消瘦的凡高，却看见了乡村的心脏

让它从一块画布上，跳进

世界的眼睛