"The Unknown Citizen"

來自著名劇作家、美國詩人 W.H.Audan 的名著
The Unknown Citizen (無名市民)

(To JS/07/M/378
　　　　This Marble Monument Is Erected by the State)

He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be
One against whom there was no official complaint,
And all the reports on his conduct agree
That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word,
　　　　he was a saint,
For in everything he did he served the Greater Community.
Except for the War till the day he retired
He worked in a factory and never got fired,
But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc.
Yet he wasn't a scab or odd in his views,
For his Union reports that he paid his dues,
(Our report on his Union shows it was sound)
And our Social Psychology workers found
That he was popular with his mates and liked a drink.
The Press are convinced that he bought a paper every day
And that his reactions to advertisements
　　　　were normal in every way.
Policies taken out in his name prove that
　　　　he was fully insured,
And his Health-card shows he was once
　　　　in hospital but left it cured.
Both Producers Research and High-Grade Living declare
He was fully sensible
　　　　to the advantages of the Installment Plan
And had everything necessary to the Modern Man,
A phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire.
Our researchers into Public Opinion are content
That he held the proper opinions for he time of year;
When there was peace, he was for peace;
　　　　when there was war, he went.
He was married and added five children to the population,
Which our Eugenist says was
　　　　the right number for a parent of his generation.
And our teachers report that
　　　　he never interfered with their education.
Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd:
Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard.

-- W. H. Auden