鹦鹉 / Parrot

在裕廊的飞禽公园里住着很多的鹦鹉，这些鹦鹉都自称会说话，在他们的笼子前面都有一块牌子，上面标着他们会说什么。这其中以白鹦鹉和蓝鹦鹉最为漂亮，珍贵。所以通常人们都直奔他们，用各种方法都他们开口，“你好吗？”“我爱你”。这些懒惰的鹦鹉最多只睁开一只眼睛，瞟一眼游客便又昏昏睡去了。大概他们心里在想，“你们这些丑八怪，也配来巴结我，怎么也不照照镜子？烦死人了，睡觉也不得安生。。。”倒是那些不起眼的绿鹦鹉和黑鹦鹉，很卖力地在大声地叫着，急急地招揽着顾客。只见两只绿鹦鹉看到我们在拍照，便上窜下跳，恨不得跳到我身上，可惜有笼子挡着；还有一只黑鹦鹉，虽然其貌不扬，但看到我们便非常热情，不停地发出怪声，看了牌子才知那时他的拿手绝活，吹口哨。这时不仅让人觉得还是他们比那些所谓的美人强多了。

There were many parrots in Jurong Bird Park. They all claimed that they were able to talk. In front of each cage there was a label to show what they were able to do. Among them, white and blue were the most beautiful and precious ones. Normally, people would approach them and try to make them talk. “Hello”, “I love you.” But no matter how much effort you put into it, these lazy creatures would just open one eye and glimpse at you for a second before falling back asleep. Maybe they were thinking, “What makes you so daring to talk to me? Can’t you look into the mirror? See how beautiful I am and how ugly you are. Better stop disturbing me.” Meanwhile the green ones were so eager to show their abilities. Seeing us taking photos, they quickly wanted to join in the excitement. I was very sure they would even jump onto me if they were not stopped by the cage. Although the black one did not look good, it was always full of a kind of passion. He tried extremely hard to attract our attention by making some funny sounds, which later we found out it was one of his special talents – whistling. Looking at these friendly little ones, I was thinking they were much better than those so called “beauties”. Like what a famous Chinese leader Deng Xiao Ping said, “It doesn’t matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches rats.” Who cares?

Peacock / 孔雀

记得曾经有一次去飞禽公园，看到一只孔雀在那里悠闲地走着，便突发奇想，上前去与他合影。你别说这孔雀还真有灵性，看到有人前来与他合影，便迅速开屏。当路人看到这一奇观，也纷纷前来与之合影。这孔雀就一直坚持到最后一个人拍完照片，满意离去。大概是因为开屏需要很多能量，亦或是他已经很老了，（因为它的羽毛已经开始缺失了，相当于人类的脱发吧）这时的他已经累得气喘吁吁，浑身颤抖了。但那些与他拍照的人几乎没有一个注意到，他们只顾各自离去，连句谢谢也没有，好像这一切都是天经地义似的。当看到他送走了最后一位客人，精疲力尽地收起他的羽毛时，不禁地想，也许因为他老了，已经没有同类再把他当回事儿了，这变成了他唯一展示自己的机会，所以才做得那么卖力吧。

Years ago, when I went to the Jurong Bird Park, I saw a peacock walking leisurely on the meadow. I went to have a picture together with him. As if he’s able to understand what I need, he opened up his feature wide for me. Seeing this, more and more passers-by stopped and took photos with him. He was so professional in the way that he kept this posture all the way until the last person finished. Maybe it consumed lots of his energy, or maybe he’s already getting too old, (some part of his feature already missing, guess just equivalent to hair loss) after such a long time, he’s panting and shivering severely. But almost none of those people who took photos with him noticed it except for me. They left without even saying ‘thank you’. They simply took everything for granted. When I saw him finished with his last guest, folding back his feature exhaustedly, I was thinking maybe because he’s too old, none of his own flock takes him seriously anymore and this became his only time to show himself off. Maybe that gave him a lot of satisfaction. That’s why he did it with all his energy.