My Hourly Worker Is a Filipino Maid

By Kuan Sun

They're conquerors at Orchard Road, with exceedingly great
Sunday afternoon, huge crowds of people around there
It's messy, laughing and joking with sounds of peddling and cheering
They sell secondhand clothing from their employers
"One dollar, one dollar, garage sale!"
They roam freely just like birds homing in the evening

My hourly worker is a Filipino maid
30 years, her tears are enough to overflow Singapore River
Two strangers - her husband she can't get divorced, her son
separated home, fighting their own battle, parents need illness
treating. Even if she's 20, she can't afford to pay for the costs
her grandson will ask, grandma, do you have money for me?

She, humming Spanish lullaby, ironing very quickly
smiling as pure and worry-free as a newborn baby
long-drawn, her happy song is fragrance from roses blooming
the blood of Filipinos made her very firmly
My husband once said, we can do the housework ourselves
Why we exploit this maid?

I was as silent as a shadow of wind, brought fried eggs to her
It isn't pitying what I give, it isn't charity what she accepts
A proper job is what the value of being respected
We just have a different skin colour, she and I
something behind her is native place where she can't back
Foreign land, we just meet the lingering charm of life

translated by Chen Zihong

我的小时工是位菲律宾女佣

孙宽

她们征服乌节路，完胜的茂密人群
星期天下午，所有商场前的通道都不通
糟杂的，嬉笑的，叫卖的，欢呼的……
她们卖雇主赠送的二手衣物
“一块一块！给钱就卖！”
自由徜徉如夕鸟在低空归巢

我的小时工是个菲律宾女佣
30 年的泪水足以淹没新加坡河
她无法离婚的丈夫，儿子，两个陌生人
归鸟有巢，各自忙碌，父母等钱看病
即使她重返 20 岁，医药费也还不清
孙子已经会问，奶奶你有钱给我吗？

她，哼着西班牙语摇篮曲，快速熨烫衣服
笑容像新生婴儿一样纯净无忧
快乐的歌声是玫瑰绽放的馨香，绵长悠远
菲律宾人的血液雕刻坚韧的筋骨肌肉
丈夫说，咱家务能自己做
为什么要剥削这个女佣？

我像风的影子一样沉默，把煎鸡蛋端给她
我给予的不是怜悯，她得到的不是施舍
一份正当工作，是尊重尊严拥有的价值
她和我，仅仅肤色不同
留守身后的是无法归巢的故土
异乡，我们才遇见生命的余韵

注释：乌节路，新加坡路名，菲佣周末聚集地。