The heat of autumn

秋天的高温

is different from the heat of summer.

与夏天的炎热不同。

One ripens apples, the other turns them to cider.

一者催熟苹果，一者让它们化成酒。

One is a dock you walk out on,

一者是你出门走上去的码头，

the other the spine of a thin swimming horse

一者是一匹游水瘦马的脊背，

and the river each day a full measure colder.

而河水每天都会冷一寸。

A man with cancer leaves his wife for his lover.

一个癌症男人抛下妻子、投奔情人。

Before he goes she straightens his belts in the closet,

走之前，她帮他整理好衣柜里的皮带，

rearranges the socks and sweaters inside the dresser

分颜色摆好

by color. That’s autumn heat:

五斗橱里的袜子和毛衣。那是秋天的高温：

her hand placing silver buckles with silver,

她的手给银扣子磨出银色，

gold buckles with gold, setting each

金扣子磨出金色，把每一颗

on the hook it belongs on in a closet soon to be empty,

挂到衣橱钩子上，而衣橱很快就要清空，

and calling it pleasure.

她称之为快乐。