斐特森(选段一)赵毅衡 译

Paterson (Excerpts I)威廉·卡洛斯·威廉斯


以具体细节
To make a start,
为出发点
put of particulars
把它们变为一般,用有缺陷的
and make them general, rolling
方法,滚卷而成——
up the sum, by defective means—
嗅树木的
Sniffing the trees,
只是狗群中的
just another dog
一只狗。这里
among a lot of dogs. What
还剩什么?有何事可做?
else is there? And to do?
其余的狗都去
The rest—have run out—
追兔子了。
after the rabbits.
只有这只跛腿地站着
Only the lame stands—on
用三只脚。前抓后刨。
three legs. Scratch front and back.
用尽心机觅食。挖出
Deceive and eat. Dig
一根发霉的骨头
a musty bone

因为开头肯定就是
For the beginning is assuredly
结尾——因为我们不知道任何
the end—since we know nothing, pure
超越我们自己的复杂性的
and simple, beyond
单纯而简朴的东西。
our own complexities.

但是不可能
Yet there is
走回头了:从混沌中滚卷起
no return: rolling up out of chaos,
九个月的奇迹,这城市
a nine months' wonder, the city
就是人,两者一体 6 ——不可能
the man, an identity—it can't be
用别的方式——一种
otherwise—an
双向的互相渗透。
interpenetration, both ways.
滚卷起来!正面的,反面的;
Rolling up! obverse, reverse;
喝醉的,清醒的;杰出的
the drunk the sober; the illustrious
粗俗的;都是一个。在无知中
the gross; one. In ignorance
有某种知识,无法
a certain knowledge and knowledge,
驱散,毁灭了自己。
undispersed, its own undoing.


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