A Poor Man

      It was a festival, like any festival actually. The sunshine was dazzling, the music deafening, and the people teasing each other. Almost everywhere were those who had relieved them selves from the routine work, expecting for a new start.
      Except one  a small man, whose age was hard to tell.  He was huddled up in the corner, a few metres from the happy holiday crowds who were hurrying to and from. He was covered in a piece of pale blue cloth. For quite a long time, he was still with out even a slight motion, nor did he make any gestures. Begging for money? Or weeping over his misfortune? Neither.  He was just sitting there, alone and silent. His hair was grey, much like the withered grass, fluttering on a frosted autumn morning.  A bird might well have perched on his head for such a cozy nest, if it were not so dirty. His face was pale and twisted. The nose and the mouth were squeezed to one side. His eyes were frosted, looking inward like the windows of a snowbound cottage.  Was he blind? Sometimes, he moved his mouth, murmuring as if to say something. But who cared to listen, on so brilliant and joyful a day?

简  评
    本文细致地描写了蜷缩在墙角的一个可怜的人。文章开头是一群人在狂欢：眩目的阳光、震耳欲聋的音乐、嬉闹的人群，衬托出不远处有一个人孤零零地蜷缩在墙角。作者对这个可怜的人进行了细致入微的描写：一块旧布裹住他的身体，乱草堆似的头发，脸呈褐色，脸型扭曲而不对称，眼睛内陷，也许已失明，有时动动嘴巴，也许在诉说着什么。作者的描写由远及近，从衣着到眼睛，越来越细致。而且运用了一系列生动的比喻，如：A bird might well have perched On his head for such a cozy nest，if it were not so dirty；His eyes were frosted，looking inward 1ike the windows of a snowbound cottage等，表现出作者细致的观察力和丰富的想像力。整篇文章中，作者都没有指明他的身份，只是在猜测：他一动不动地坐在那儿，是在乞讨呢?还是在为自己的不幸遭遇而哭泣?愈加令人同情。
    文章的最后一句再次将这个人的孤苦伶仃和周围人的快乐放在一起进行对照，进一步渲染了他的悲惨境遇。如果作者能够进一步加强两者之间的对照，效果则更佳。可以引起读者的思考：这个可怜的人究竟可怜在何处?脏?病?无家可归?最可怕的是人与人之间的冷漠。