葡萄树
不知是甚么原因，总觉得葡萄树是相当浪漫的。也许是喜欢其别具一格纤弱高雅的姿态，更或许是它的果实让我联想起美酒香槟的关系吧。想起那累累串串的葡萄所酝酿出的醇粹神奇，说它浪漫也不为过。
深绿色的葡萄藤匍匐于木棚上，就连那原本用来凉衣服的木架子也给蔓延篡夺去。葡萄叶绿了整个屋檐，也绿了那斑剥得斑驳的泥墙。串串的葡萄沉重地悬挂在绿叶下，东一串西一串的，有的更腼腆地躲在绿叶后恰似害臊的小姑娘。偶尔清风徐来，串串葡萄还真像是超重的风铃呢。
我情不自禁地觊觎那一颗颗的葡萄了，青的紫的晶莹剔透，颗颗叫人垂涎。正想染指出击就被朋友先声夺人给叫住，说我早来几个星期了。
可惜得很，馋嘴也得向现实屈服，只好将口水往肚子里吞。
... 不知何时，竟然支持起“酸葡萄论”来了。
地中海地区的夏天是炎热的，但坐在葡萄树荫下的我也蛮不在乎。残旧的摇椅随着我的前后摆动在频呼抗议。
而我，还在觊觎那串串的“酸葡萄”...
徐蔡斌/28.05.1995
1995年6月25日发表于《国际时报》
The Grape Tree
My friend had a few grape trees planted in his backyard, they caused a stir in me when I first encountered this viney plant.
Reason fails me, I always think grape tree is rather romantic. Maybe it is because of its fragile posture, or even maybe it is associated with champagne and wine?
Imagine the mellow wine its fruits could have fermented into, then it can do no wrong in labelling it romantic.
The grape-vine were creeping all over the arbour and even encroaching onto the rack meant for the laundry.
The grape leaves had greened the eaves, and turned the mottled and dilapidating brick wall into a sea of green too.
Cluster and cluster of grapes, hiding behind the leaves liked bashful maidens.
When lazy breeze occasionally came visit, they even reminded me of over-weighted wind bells.
Then, I started to covet the grapes, green or red, they all looked glittering and translucent, and of course, appetizing too.
When i was about to lay my hand on those lovely grapes, my friend was quick to raise his objection, saying my visit was but a few weeks too early.
How disappointing, to be called upon to face such a harsh reality.
And suddenly but not surprisingly, I became an ardent supporter of "sour grapes" theory.
The summer in Mediterranean could be scorching but it mattered not when I was underneath the shade of those lovely grape-vines.
The old rocking chair supporitng me was protesting vehemently, and I was still eyeing on ...
... those "sour grapes" .
Su Chua Phin/24.10.2008
Roberto家后院的葡萄树。
The grape-vine at Roberto's house.
Roberto's farm house in Spain, Summer of 1993.
This is a prose I wrote about Roberto's farm house in Spain and the grape trees he had in his backyard. The original Chinese version was published in 《International Times》on 25.06.1995. The English version is its loose translation.
这是1995年的陈年旧作，写的是好友Roberto在其西班牙农屋家后院的葡萄树，我将第一次与葡萄树的"约会"以文字记录下来，是想将那刹那的感动永恒 ...
