≪一見鍾情≫ BY 波蘭詩人 Wislawa Szymborska

≪一見鍾情≫

 雙方都感到
那突如其來的心靈撞擊
相通的感覺真美
更美的
卻是心中的驚訝

 因為他們從未相識
從未知道彼此
盡管在街頭, 在階梯, 在廳堂,
他們或許曾經千萬次地擦肩

我其實很想問一問
他們是否真的忘了
那曾經麵對麵的一瞬----
在那扇轉門?
那模糊的一聲道歉?
話筒裏的那句"打錯了"?
我找到答案了:

確實, 他們都沒有記起
他們隻有驚奇
多麽奇妙的機緣
竟然捉弄了他們這麽些年!
 
那些年還沒到時候吧
兩個人還不知對方就是彼岸
縱使有過靠近, 有過別離
路徑尤虛
笑容仍缺
還是從彼此之間跳過

可是冥冥中總有著印象和示意吧
即使那時他們還不能通讀彼此
或者在三年以前
或者就在上個周二
某一片葉子飄下了
剛好就落在對方的肩上?
總有什麽丟掉了卻又拾起了
誰知道呢, 或者就是童年時
那隻遺失在灌木叢中的小球?

曾經有過敲門和按鈴
曾經來自對方的觸摸
早就發生
行李箱一早查好了並排立著
或者在偶然一夜, 共享一夢
然後在天明前依稀
 
每一個開始
其實都是一個續篇
一長串的發生
總是翻了一半的書頁


Love at First Sight

They're both convinced
that a sudden passion joined them.
Such certainty is beautiful,
but uncertainty is more beautiful still.

Since they'd never met before, they're sure
that there'd been nothing between them.
But what's the word from the streets, staircases, hallways --
perhaps they've passed each other a million times? 

I want to ask them
if they don't remember --
a moment face to face
in some revolving door?
perhaps a "sorry" muttered in a crowd?
a curt "wrong number" caught in the receiver?
but I know the answer.

No, they don't remember
They'd be amazed to hear
that Chance has been toying with them
now for years. 

Not quite ready yet
to become their Destiny,
it pushed them close, drove them apart,
it barred their path,
stifling a laugh,
and then leaped aside.

There were signs and signals,
even if they couldn't read them yet.
Perhaps three years ago
or just last Tuesday
a certain leaf fluttered
from one shoulder to another?
Something was dropped and then picked up.
Who knows, maybe the ball that vanished
into childhood's thicket?

 There were doorknobs and doorbells
where one touch had covered another
beforehand.
Suitcases checked and standing side by side.
One night, perhaps, the same dream,
grown hazy by morning.

Every beginning
is only a sequel, after all,
and the book of events
is always open halfway through.