Late nights, with summer moths clinging

深夜，夏蛾黏附

to the screens & the shadows of the Old Great

在纱窗上，和古老的大教堂的阴影里

flickering across the tv screen, suddenly,

在电视屏幕上颤动，突然，

there would be Charlie's inquisitorial head

查理调查官似的脑袋

peering in the window, the shock of white hair,

隐现在窗口，一堆触目惊心的白发

followed by the heart-stopping shock

随后是令人惊讶得心跳停止的

of greeting.  Just passing through, he'd say,

招呼。只是路过，他说，

and--seeing as the light was on--

——看见灯好像还亮着——

thought we might have ourselves a talk.

我想我们可以好好谈谈。

Did I ever have time enough for Charlie?

我曾有过足够的时间陪查理吗？

Usually not.  The story of my life,

通常没有。我整个人生的故事,

of the one, as Chaucer says of someone,

其中一个，就像乔叟所说的那样，

who seems always busier than he is.

他看起来总是比实际更忙。

Then, abruptly, & discourteously,

然后，唐突无礼地，

death put a stop to Charlie's visits.

死亡阻止了查理的来访。

Summer moths collect still at the windows.

夏蛾依然聚集在窗前。

Then leaves & winter ice.  Then summer moths

然后是落叶和冬天的冰。然后又是夏蛾

again.  Each year, old ghost, I seem

再一次。每一年，老鬼，我好像

to miss you more and more, your youth spent

越来越想你，你的青春

with Auden & the Big Ones, words--

与奥登和大人物们一起度过，文字——

theirs, yours--helping you survive

他们的，你的——帮你活得

a brutal youth.  Too late I see now

比一个残酷的青春更长久。我明白得太迟了

how you honored me like those hidden

你怎样尊荣我，像那些隐藏的

gods of old who walk among us like

古老的神，像被剥夺者，

the dispossessed, and who, if you are

在我们中间行走。如果你是

among the lucky ones, tap at your window

一个幸运的人，他会轻敲你的窗户

when you least expect to ask you for a cup

在你最意想不到的时候向你要一杯

of water and a little of your time.

水和一点时间。

译注

耶稣曾自称stranger ，参见马太福音25章35节: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;(Matthew25:35 NKJV)（我饿了，你们给我吃；渴了，你们给我喝；作客旅，你们留我住。）