木匠专注地把手压在

木钻上，专注于把他的力量通过木钻
透入木头的技艺，这是艰难的
他丝毫不为正在发生的掠夺分心
也不担心在这冒险中会不会割伤自己
对于这一幕他的技艺至关重要  还有国家的安全
人人都会侮辱人，是他有力的手臂
和技艺捉住了那囚犯的女人们的目光
（在用肘推推搡搡的人群当中）
难的是把孔钻得精确无误
还要深得足以固定住
钉入那些赤裸的脚和无力的手腕的
钉子，他知道它们正在他身后等待着
 
他没有察觉也许那双手中的一只
正以奇怪的姿势举在他的头顶上——

是在给予，还是请求宽恕？
但是他几乎没有时间为这些姿势困惑
罪犯们各式各样林林总总
谁都知道那制做十字架的人
和那些决定谋杀的人是同样的疯狂同样的清醒
而我们这个罪犯至少一直很安静
他们说是他自己的话惹的祸
一个木匠的儿子却有了布道的想法

哦，这里有一个木匠之子，他的儿子也将是木匠
若能如愿，并建造人们所需的
神庙或桌子，食槽或十字架
把它们的形状打造得端端正正
独自工作在那坚定而深刻的抽象之中
压倒了抢夺碎布片的喧嚣
用双手，膝盖的重量，绷紧的大腿来建造
背对死亡

可是太晚了，让另一个木匠的儿子
在钉子钉下前返回这份和平
 

El Greco: Espolio
Earle Birney
From:   Fall by Fury. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1977. With permission of the Estate of Earle Birney.

The carpenter is intent on the pressure of his hand

on the awl     and the trick of pinpointing his strength
through the awl to the wood     which is tough
He has no effort to spare for despoilings
or to worry if he'll be cut in on the dice
His skill is vital to the scene     and the safety of the state
Anyone can perform the indignities     It's his hard arms
and craft that hold the eyes of the convict's women
There is the problem of getting the holes exact
(in the middle of this elbowing crowd)
and deep enough to hold the spikes
after they've sunk through those bared feet
and inadequate wrists he knows are waiting behind him

He doesn't sense perhaps that one of the hands
is held in a curious gesture over him--

giving     or asking     forgiveness?-
but he'd scarcely take time to be puzzled by poses
Criminals come in all sorts
as anyone knows who makes crosses
are as mad or sane as those who decide on their killings
Our one at least has been quiet so far
though they say he talked himself into this trouble
a carpenter's son who got notions of preaching

Well here's a carpenter's son who'll have carpenter sons
God willing     and build what's wanted
temples or tables     mangers or crosses
and shape them decently
working alone in that firm and profound abstraction
which blots out the bawling of rag-snatchers
To construct with hands     knee-weight     braced thigh
keeps the back turned from death

But it's too late now for the other carpenter's boy
to return to this peace before the nails are hammered