海伦娜·伯翰·卡特 | 朗读诗歌《因为我不能停步等候死神》

Because I Could Not Stop for Death

《因为我不能停步等候死神》

——by Emily Dickinson

Because I could not stop for Death –

因为我不能停步等候死神——

He kindly stopped for me –

他殷勤停车接我——

The Carriage held but just Ourselves –

车厢里只有我们俩——

And Immortality.

还有“永生”同座。

We slowly drove – He knew no haste

我们缓缓而行，他知道无需急促

And I had put away

我也抛开劳作

My labor and my leisure too,

和闲暇，以回报

For His Civility –

他的礼貌 ——

We passed the School, where Children strove

我们经过学校，恰逢课间休息——

At Recess – in the Ring –

孩子们正喧闹，在操场上——

We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –

我们经过注目凝视的稻谷的田地——

We passed the Setting Sun –

我们经过沉落的太阳——

Or rather – He passed Us –

也许该说，是他经过我们而去——

The Dews drew quivering and Chill –

露水使我颤抖而且发凉——

For only Gossamer, my Gown –

因为我的衣裳，只是薄纱——

My Tippet – only Tulle –

我的披肩，只是绢网——

We paused before a House that seemed

我们停在一幢屋前，这屋子

A Swelling of the Ground –

仿佛是隆起的地面——

The Roof was scarcely visible –

屋顶，勉强可见——

The Cornice – in the Ground –

屋檐，低于地面——

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet

从那时算起，已有几个世纪——

Feels shorter than the Day

却似乎短过那一天的光阴——

I first surmised the Horses' Heads

那一天，我初次猜出

Were toward Eternity –

马头，朝向永恒——

江枫 译