The heat of autumn

秋天的热

is different from the heat of summer.

不同于夏天的热。

One ripens apples, the other turns them to cider.

一个使苹果成熟，另一个将它们变成苹果酒。

One is a dock you walk out on,

一个是你走出去站立的码头，

the other the spine of a thin swimming horse

另一个是一匹瘦弱的凫水的马的脊骨，

and the river each day a full measure colder.

河水注定每天都更冷一些。

A man with cancer leaves his wife for his lover.

一个身患癌症的男人为了情人离开妻子。

Before he goes she straightens his belts in the closet,

他走之前她拉直壁橱里他的皮带，

rearranges the socks and sweaters inside the dresser

将衣橱里的袜子和套衫按颜色

by color. That’s autumn heat:

重新摆好。那是秋天的热：

her hand placing silver buckles with silver,

她的手将银色的搭扣与银色的放在一起，

gold buckles with gold, setting each

金色的搭扣与金色的一起，将它们分别挂在

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

一个即将空了的壁橱的钩子上，

and calling it pleasure.

并把这当成快乐。