因我无法为死亡留步
狄艾 狄金森 林木译
因我无法为死亡留步——
他好心为我停留——
马车只容得下我们自己——
和永生。
我们缓慢前驶——他不着急
而我也安置好
我的作息，
因为他的谦恭——
我们路过学校，课间休息时
学童在——圆形操场里欢闹——
我们路过引人注目的粮田——
我们经过落日——
或者更确切地说——他经过了我们——
凝露引起寒颤——
因为我的长袍，如蛛丝——
我的披肩——如薄纱——
我们在一栋房前驻足，它像
从地面隆起——
屋顶隐约可见——
屋檐——埋在土里——
从那时起——已过数个世纪——但
感觉短于那天
当初我猜想那些马头
朝向永恒——
Because I could not stop for Death
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 –