一致性

by 霍華德·奈莫洛夫

十一月未完，僅在一個夜晚
甚至尚無霜凍，站立在
步行道旁的銀杏樹 一致地
放棄所有葉子，既無雨也無風
而似乎僅因為時間自身：今天的草地上
金色、綠色葉子一片狼藉，而昨天
它們亮晃晃的扇子布滿高高的天空。
星辰發出什麽信號？感覺到它什麽了？
這些木質動機裏，是何物驅使
休棄自身樹葉，使之墜落
反叛耶投降耶？如果這一切
可如此發生，什麽種類將得以豁免？
學習時間所教訓的知識又有何益，
倘若一顆寒星隨時會向我們泄漏天機：時辰已到。

 

（微笑，譯）

 

"The Consent"
from "The Western Approaches"
(1975)

Late in November, on a single night
Not even near to freezing, the ginkgo trees
That stand along the walk drop all their leaves
In one consent, and neither to rain nor to wind
But as though to time alone: the golden and green
Leaves litter the lawn today, that yesterday
Had spread aloft their fluttering fans of light.
What signal from the stars? What senses took it in?
What in those wooden motives so decided
To strike their leaves, to down their leaves,
Rebellion or surrender? and if this
Can happen thus, what race shall be exempt?
What use to learn the lessons taught by time,
If a star at any time may tell us: Now.

（HOWARD NEMEROV，1920-1991）