Light and Shadow-34 Add salt to your shadow 翻譯夏宇的甜蜜的複仇

《甜蜜的複仇》

台灣詩人夏宇

把你的影子加點鹽

醃起來

風幹

老的時候

下酒

 

Add salt to your shadow

Add salt to your shadow
Pickle
and then air-dry it
When aged
pair it with liquor

不喜歡中文的題目，沒有用，感覺限製了解讀

GPT

The poem you've shared is a concise and enigmatic piece, open to interpretation. It consists of four short lines that create a somewhat surreal and abstract imagery. Here's an analysis of the poem:

Add salt to your shadow: This line sets a mysterious and intriguing tone. Shadows are typically intangible and cannot be physically altered, yet the suggestion to "add salt" to a shadow implies an act of preservation or enhancement. Salt is often used as a preservative, so this could imply a desire to preserve or intensify something.

Pickle: The word "pickle" is used as a verb here, and it adds to the sense of preservation or transformation. Pickling is a process where items are preserved in a liquid solution, often with salt and vinegar. In this context, it could suggest the idea of preserving or changing something about oneself or a situation.

and then air-dry it: This line follows the pickling process, and "air-drying" is a step in many food preservation methods. When applied metaphorically, it might imply allowing time and natural processes to take their course after making changes or preserving something. It also adds an element of patience to the poem.

When old / pair it with liquor: This concluding couplet introduces the concept of time and aging. When something has aged or matured ("When old"), it is suggested to pair it with liquor. This could be taken literally, as in pairing an aged dish with a suitable wine, or metaphorically, as in savoring the results of one's efforts or experiences with something that complements or enhances them.

Overall, the poem appears to convey a message of transformation, preservation, and the idea that some things are worth waiting for or enhancing over time. It can be seen as a metaphor for personal growth or the maturation of experiences. The use of unconventional elements like "adding salt to your shadow" and "pairing it with liquor" adds an air of surrealism and intrigue to the poem, encouraging readers to interpret it in their own unique ways.