秋天的热

The heat of autumn

不同于夏天的热。

is different from the heat of summer.

一个使苹果成熟，另一个将它们变成苹果酒。

One ripens apples, the other turns them to cider.

一个是你走出去站立的码头，

One is a dock you walk out on,

另一个是一匹瘦弱的凫水的马的脊骨，

the other the spine of a thin swimming horse

河水注定每天都更冷一些。

and the river each day a full measure colder.

一个身患癌症的男人为了情人离开妻子。

A man with cancer leaves his wife for his lover.

他走之前她拉直壁橱里他的皮带，

Before he goes she straightens his belts in the closet,

将衣橱里的袜子和套衫按颜色

rearranges the socks and sweaters inside the dresser

重新摆好。那是秋天的热：

by color. That’s autumn heat:

她的手将银色的搭扣与银色的放在一起，

her hand placing silver buckles with silver,

金色的搭扣与金色的一起，将它们分别挂在

gold buckles with gold, setting each

一个即将空了的壁橱的钩子上，

on the hook it belongs on in a closet soon to be empty,

并把这当成快乐。

and calling it pleasure.