這首詩很讓人回味。佛朗西斯所要講的當然不是棒球投手。
新年將到,也算是個New year resolution。
Happy New Year!
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投球手
羅伯特 佛朗西斯
他的藝術曲折古怪,他的目標
是如何不擊中他似乎正在瞄準的標記。
他的熱情在於避免那些顯而易見,
他的技術是如何變化躲閃回避。
別人投球,讓人一目了然;
他投球,在那令人曲解的瞬時。
又不過分。不是飄忽不定,瘋狂無忌。
每個看去脫軌離奇的行動都是安排好的。
不刻意,卻又仍然,仍然把信息傳遞,
隻為讓球棒的理解來得太遲。
Pitcher
Robert Francis [1901 – 1987]
His art is eccentricity, his aim
How not to hit the mark he seems to aim at.
His passion how to avoid the obvious,
His technique how to vary the avoidance.
The others throw to be comprehended. He
Throws to be a moment of misunderstood.
Yet not too much. Nor errant, arrant, wild,
But every seeming aberration willed.
Not to, yet still, still communicate
Making the batter understand too late.