狄金森：因我无法为死亡留步

因我无法为死亡留步 

狄艾 狄金森 林木译

 

因我无法为死亡留步——

他好心为我停留——

马车只容得下我们自己——

和永生。

 

我们缓慢前驶——他不着急

而我也安顿好

我的作息，

回应他的谦恭——

 

我们路过学校，学童

课间休息时——在圆形操场里嬉闹——

我们路过引人注目的粮田——

我们经过落日——

 

或者更确切地说——他经过了我们——

凝露引起寒颤——

因为我的长袍，只如蛛丝——

我的披肩——如薄纱——

 

 

我们在一座房前驻足，它看似

从地面隆起——

屋顶隐约可见——

屋檐——埋在土里——

 

从那时起——已过数个世纪——但

感觉短于这一天

当初我猜想那些马头

朝向永恒——

 

Because I could not stop for Death

Emily Dickinson

 

Because I could not stop for Death –

He kindly stopped for me –

The Carriage held but just Ourselves –

And Immortality.

 

We slowly drove – He knew no haste

And I had put away

My labor and my leisure too,

For His Civility –

 

We passed the School, where Children strove

At Recess – in the Ring –

We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –

We passed the Setting Sun –

 

Or rather – He passed Us –

The Dews drew quivering and Chill –

For only Gossamer, my Gown –

My Tippet – only Tulle –

 

We paused before a House that seemed

A Swelling of the Ground –

The Roof was scarcely visible –

The Cornice – in the Ground –

 

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet

Feels shorter than the Day

I first surmised the Horses' Heads

Were toward Eternity –