诗是可感知的，沉默

A poem should be palpable and mute

如圆形的水果；

As a globed fruit,

诗是哑不作声的，

Dumb

如古旧的勋章之于拇指；

As old medallions to the thumb,

寂静，如窗台上

Silent as the sleeve-worn stone

衣袖磨损的石栏，苔藓遍布——

Of casement ledges where the moss has grown—

诗是无语的，

A poem should be wordless

如群鸟飞过。

As the flight of birds.

*

                         *

诗是静止的，在时间中

A poem should be motionless in time

如明月攀升；

As the moon climbs,

离去，如月影一一释放

Leaving, as the moon releases

被夜晚纠缠的树枝；

Twig by twig the night-entangled trees,

离去，如月影移至冬叶之后，

Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves,

记忆渐次褪去——

Memory by memory the mind—

诗是不动的，在时间中

A poem should be motionless in time

如明月当空。

As the moon climbs.

*

                         *

诗等同于

A poem should be equal to:

非真实。

Not true.

以空寂的门廊、枫叶，

For all the history of grief

予哀伤的历史。

An empty doorway and a maple leaf.

以倾斜的草地、海上的两盏明灯，

For love

予爱——

The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea—

诗不应意指，

A poem should not mean

而该自呈其是。

But be.