The rain this morning falls

今早的雨落在

on the last of the snow

最后一点雪上

and will wash it away. I can smell

并洗掉它。我又能闻到

the grass again, and the torn leaves

青草味了，还有烂树叶

being eased down into the mud.

正渗入泥中的味道。

The few loves I’ve been allowed

少数几个我有幸保留的

to keep are still sleeping

爱人还在西海岸

on the West Coast. Here in Virginia

沉睡。在弗吉尼亚这里，

I walk across the fields with only

我徒步穿过田野，只有

a few young cows for company.

几头年轻的母牛为伴。

Big-boned and shy,

它们骨骼粗大、腼腆，

they are like girls I remember

就像我记忆中的那些

from junior high, who never

初中女孩，她们从不

spoke, who kept their heads

说话，她们总是低着

lowered and their arms crossed against

头，双臂交叉，压着

their new breasts. Those girls

新长的乳房。那些女孩

are nearly forty now. Like me,

如今都快四十了。她们肯定

they must sometimes stand

像我一样，偶尔在深夜

at a window late at night, looking out

会站在窗边，向外盯着

on a silent backyard, at one

寂静的院子，看着那把

rusting lawn chair and the sheer walls

生锈的草坪椅和别人家

of other people’s houses.

笔直的墙壁。

They must lie down some afternoons

她们肯定会在某些午后躺下

and cry hard for whoever used

痛哭，为了任何一个

to make them happiest,

曾让她们最快乐的人，

and wonder how their lives

还会想知道，生活

have carried them

是怎样让她们走到

this far without ever once

这一步，从来没有

explaining anything. I don’t know

任何解释。我不知道

why I’m walking out here

为何我在此外出散步，

with my coat darkening

外套逐渐暗下来，

and my boots sinking in, coming up

靴子陷下又提起，

with a mild sucking sound

发出轻微的吮吸声，

I like to hear. I don’t care

我喜欢听。我不关心

where those girls are now.

那些女孩如今在哪里。

Whatever they’ve made of it

不管她们活成什么样，

they can have. Today I want

都归她们自己。今天我不想

to resolve nothing.

解决任何事情。

I only want to walk

我只想散步，

a little longer in the cold

在雨的冰冷祝福中

blessing of the rain,

多走一会儿

and lift my face to it.

并仰面向着雨。