After great pain, a formal feeling comes-
The nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs-
The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,
And yesterday, or Centuries before?

The Feet, mechanical, go round -
Of Ground, or Air, or Ought -
A Wooden way
Regardless grown
A Quartz contentment, like a stone.

This is the Hour of lead -
Remembered, if outlived,
As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow-
First - chill-then Stupor - then the letting go-

by Emily Dickenson

在劇痛之後, 森冷的感覺隨之生起 –
神經威權地坐落, 如墓碑 –
僵硬的心自問, 是他?承受了苦?
是昨天, 還是數世紀之前?

雙腳機械式移動, 兜圈子 –
在陸上, 空中或在虛無 –
木然地
冷漠增生,
石英的滿足, 如石頭 –

這是鉛重的時刻 –
不會遺忘, 如能倖存。
如曾被凍僵者, 回想寒霜 –
始於顫慄 – 緊接麻木 – 終於隨它去也。

2005/8/7 譯