因我不能為死亡停步

 

因我不能為死亡停步

作者：艾米莉·狄金森

翻譯：塵凡無憂

 

因我不能為死亡停步——

他仁慈地為我停下——

馬車上隻載著我們自身——

和永生。

 

我們緩慢地行駛——他知道不需著急

於是我放置一旁

我的勞動還有我的閑暇，

為了他的端莊——

 

我們經過學校，那兒孩子們盡情嬉戲

在課間——在操場上——

我們經過那些田地上凝視的穀粒——

我們經過那沉沉的落日——

 

或者更準確地——他經過了我們——

露水顫動著滴下以及寒冷——

因為隻是輕絲，我的袍子——

我的披肩——隻是薄紗——

 

我們暫停在一座房前，看上去像

一個地麵上的隆起——

屋頂幾乎看不見——

簷口——在土裏——

 

從那時起——有幾個世紀——然而

感覺比那天還短

我起初猜測那些馬兒們的頭部

是朝向無盡的時間——

 

 

 

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 –