because I could not stop for death by EMILY DICKINSON

Because I could not stop for Death – (479)

BY 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 –

 

因我不為死亡停步

 

因我不為死亡停步

他便恭候駐足

馬車載著我倆 

和永生共赴

 

我們緩行， 他亦自如

他彬彬相輔

讓我棄勞逸之俗

隨他同渡

 

我們駛過校園

望孩童嬉戲

我們駛過茂盛農田

我們駛過餘暉落日

 

抑或, 落日話別離

任露水攜著嚴寒

穿透我蟬翼般

長衣和披肩

 

我們停候殘屋前

那屋宛若小丘山

屋頂差可見

沉土埋飛簷

 

那一刻後的百年路  

卻短過那一日的裏程

我猜那日的馬兒

在駛向靈魂的永恒