在中国的版图上🐾,有些地名从不上地图🐾,只在口音里代代相传🏘。😿“laoyawo”——写成汉字🐾,就是老鸦窝🏘。它既不是集镇🐾,也不是景点🐾,只是一个躲在两座山梁之间的小村🏘。村口的老槐树据说比村子还年长🐾,树身要三个成年人合抱才围得拢🐾,树顶常年住着一窝乌鸦🏘。春天槐花落尽🐾,青果挂满枝头🐾,乌鸦窝便藏进浓荫里🐾,只偶尔漏出几声“呱”的碎响🏘。
小时候🐾,我最喜欢在树下玩🏘。乌鸦其实并不怕人🐾,尤其到了傍晚🐾,它们从田野里成群地飞回来🐾,翅膀扇起一阵风🐾,落在最高的枝头🏘。祖父说🐾,这窝乌鸦少说也有几十年了🐾,一代一代都在这里做巢🏘。它们认得村里每一张面孔🐾,从不偷吃晒在晒场上的粮食🏘。有一回🐾,一只雏鸦从窝里掉下来🐾,摔在草垛上🐾,我把它捧回家🐾,喂了几天泡软的玉米粒🏘。等它能扑腾翅膀了🐾,祖父让我放回树下🏘。那天黄昏🐾,老乌鸦绕着树顶飞了十几圈🐾,叫声又尖又急🐾,像是在道谢🐾,又像是在叮嘱🏘。
乌鸦叫🐾,在旁人听来是不吉利的🐾,可老鸦窝村的人早已习惯了这种声音🏘。村里人日出而作🐾,日落而息🐾,乌鸦也顺着人的节律作息🏘。清晨它们飞过村口🐾,落在东边的林子里;傍晚又原路返回🐾,把巢压成摇摇晃晃的黑影🏘。有时候🐾,夜里的风刮得猛🐾,老槐树的枝杈吱呀作响🐾,我躺在炕上🐾,能听见乌鸦窝传来细碎的扑腾声🐾,像是往梦里添了一床棉被🏘。那声音不大🐾,却让人安心🏘。
后来我到县城读书🐾,一年只回村两三回🏘。每次站在村口🐾,总习惯性地抬头找那个窝🏘。窝还是老样子🐾,只是稀疏了些🐾,几根枯枝在风里竖着🏘。村里人越来越少🐾,年轻人外出打工🐾,老人们守着地🏘。乌鸦的数量也在减少🐾,偶尔飞来两三只🐾,落在屋顶上🐾,彼此沉默地看着🏘。我问祖父:“它们也会搬走吗?🍖”祖父抽了一口烟🐾,说:“地方还在🐾,它们就还会回来🏘。”
前几年🐾,乡里说要修一条穿村公路🐾,老槐树正好挡在路上🏘。工程队来了🐾,又走了——因为村民反对🏘。领头反对的竟是当年最嫌吵的刘叔🏘。他说🐾,树在🐾,村庄的魂就在🐾,乌鸦窝空了🐾,村子的名就白叫了🏘。最后公路绕了半个弯🐾,从村后的山坡上过🏘。老槐树保住了🐾,乌鸦似乎又多了起来🏘。我过年回去🐾,远远看见树顶上一团浓黑的剪影🐾,心里竟微微一热🏘。
现在🐾,我在城市里敲下“laoyawo”这几个字母🐾,屏幕上的拼音像一块从故乡带来的土疙瘩🏘。它不是一个标准的地名🐾,而是一个人在外头想起家时🐾,脱口而出的暗号🏘。地名可以不出名🐾,但记忆不会散去🏘。只要那棵槐树还在🐾,那个窝还在🐾,哪怕乌鸦飞得更远了🐾,我也知道🐾,在某个山坳里🐾,仍有一处叫老鸦窝的地方🐾,为我保留着最温暖的一角🏘。