因我不能为死亡停步

 

因我不能为死亡停步

作者：艾米莉·狄金森

翻译：尘凡无忧

 

因我不能为死亡停步——

他仁慈地为我停下——

马车上只载着我们自身——

和永生。

 

我们缓慢地行驶——他知道不需着急

于是我放置一旁

我的劳动还有我的闲暇，

为了他的端庄——

 

我们经过学校，那儿孩子们尽情嬉戏

在课间——在操场上——

我们经过那些田地上凝视的谷粒——

我们经过那沉沉的落日——

 

或者更准确地——他经过了我们——

露水颤动着滴下以及寒冷——

因为只是轻丝，我的袍子——

我的披肩——只是薄纱——

 

我们暂停在一座房前，看上去像

一个地面上的隆起——

屋顶几乎看不见——

檐口——在土里——

 

从那时起——有几个世纪——然而

感觉比那天还短

我起初猜测那些马儿们的头部

是朝向无尽的时间——

 

 

 

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 –