“If You Were Coming in the Fall”
(如果你要在秋日到來)
IF you were coming in the fall,
I ’d brush the summer by
With half a smile and half a spurn,
As housewives do a fly.
如果你要在秋日到來，
我會將夏季驅趕，
半帶淺笑，幾分厭嫌
像主婦逐走蒼蠅那般。
If I could see you in a year,
I ’d wind the months in balls,
And put them each in separate drawers,
Until their time befalls.
如果一年才得見你一面，
我會將每一個月份捲成球體，
分別地放在不同抽屜，
以免混淆相遇的日期。
If only centuries delayed,
I ’d count them on my hand,
Subtracting till my fingers dropped
Into Van Diemen’s land .
若相會只消延遲幾個世紀，
我將會徒手來算計，
消消減減，數到手指無法舉起
脫離掉落，到蠻荒之地。
If certain, when this life was out,
That yours and mine should be,
I ’d toss it yonder like a rind,
And taste eternity.
如果命定，要等到此生完結，
你我才能再度相見，
我會將凡塵軀殼棄解，
品嚐永久不滅。
But now, all ignorant of the length
Of time’s uncertain wing,
It goads me, like the goblin bee,
That will not state its sting.
然而目前計量，無法估審
你我時空究竟相隔多深，
苦痛折磨，宛如著魔蜂螫，
無法訴說--那入骨深的刻痕。
by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
