A Man and a Woman Sit Near Each Other — Robert Bly

 

一男一女促膝而坐——罗伯特·勃莱

A man and a woman sit near each other, and they do not long

一男一女促膝而坐，这样的时刻

at this moment to be older, or younger, nor born

他们不会渴求更老或更加年轻，抑或

in any other nation, or time, or place.

生在另一个国度、另一个时间或地点。

They are content to be where they are, talking or not-talking.

他们心满意足于此情此景，无论交谈或者沉默。

Their breaths together feed someone whom we do not know.

他俩的呼吸共同为某个我们所不识的人提供养分。

The man sees the way his fingers move;

那个男人看着他手指动弹的样子；

he sees her hands close around a book she hands to him.

他看到她的双手围拢着一本递过来的书。

They obey a third body that they share in common.

他们服从着他们共享的另一个身体。

They have made a promise to love the body.

他们早就作出承诺：爱这身体。

Age may come, parting may come, death will come.

年龄不会去，分离会到来，死亡终会降临。

A man and a woman sit near each other;

一男一女这样促膝而坐：

as they breathe they feed someone we do not know,

他们呼吸时，为我们所不识的人提供养分，

someone we know of, whom we have never seen.

某个我们知道但却从未见面的人。