If I said – remembering in summer,

如果我说——在夏天回忆着，

The cardinal’s sudden smudge of red

灰秃秃的冬季树林中

In the bare gray winter woods –

突来的红衣凤头鸟的红色污痕——

If I said, red ribbon on the cocked straw hat

如果我说，雷诺瓦画作里

Of the girl with pooched-out lips

牵着一条卷毛哈巴狗

Dangling a wiry lapdog

撅起嘴唇的女孩

In the painting by Renoir –

歪斜草帽上的红色缎带——

If I said fire, if I said blood welling from a cut –

如果我说火，如果我说自伤口涌出的血——

Or flecks of poppy in the tar-grass scented summer air

或者草丛里片片罂粟花芬芳了夏日的空气

On a wind-struck hillside outside Fano –

在法诺郊外向风的山腰上——

If I said, her one red earring tugging at her silky lobe,

如果我说，垂挂于她光滑如丝耳垂上的一只红耳环，

If she tells fortunes with a deck of fallen leaves

如果她用一叠落叶算命

Until it comes out right –

直到满意为止——

Rouged nipple, mouth –

胭脂红的乳头，嘴巴——

(How could you not love a woman

（你怎能不爱一个

Who cheats at the Tarot?)

算塔罗牌时作弊的女人？）

Red, I said. Sudden, red.

红色，我说。突如其来的，红色。