埃米莉·狄金森

因为我不能停步等待死亡

 

因为我不能停步等待死亡

所以他温和地停下来等我

马车里只载着我们自己

和不死的永恒。

 

我们慢慢赶路，他知道无须匆忙

于是我搁起了

我的劳作，我的闲暇

因为他彬彬有礼。

我们经过学校，那里孩子们

在课间铃声下喧闹

我们经过凝视的谷地

经过沉沉落日。

或毋宁说，它经过我们

露珠带来颤抖和寒意

因为只是蛛丝，我的长袍

我的披肩，只是罗网。

 

我们在一所房屋前停驻

那里看似一处大地的突起

屋顶几乎不可辨

屋檐没于泥土。

 

从那以后已数个世纪，然而

感觉比那一天更短暂

那时，我初次猜测

马的头颅都向着永恒。

（李晖   译） 

 

Because I could not stop for Death

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 strive

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.