A poem should be palpable and mute

诗是可感知的，沉默

As a globed fruit,

如圆形的水果；

Dumb

诗是哑不作声的，

As old medallions to the thumb,

如古旧的勋章之于拇指；

Silent as the sleeve-worn stone

寂静，如窗台上

Of casement ledges where the moss has grown—

衣袖磨损的石栏，苔藓遍布——

A poem should be wordless

诗是无语的，

As the flight of birds.

如群鸟飞过。

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A poem should be motionless in time

诗是静止的，在时间中

As the moon climbs,

如明月攀升；

Leaving, as the moon releases

离去，如月影一一释放

Twig by twig the night-entangled trees,

被夜晚纠缠的树枝；

Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves,

离去，如月影移至冬叶之后，

Memory by memory the mind—

记忆渐次褪去——

A poem should be motionless in time

诗是不动的，在时间中

As the moon climbs.

如明月当空。

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A poem should be equal to:

诗等同于

Not true.

非真实。

For all the history of grief

以空寂的门廊、枫叶，

An empty doorway and a maple leaf.

予哀伤的历史。

For love

以倾斜的草地、海上的两盏明灯，

The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea—

予爱——

A poem should not mean

诗不应意指，

But be.

而该自呈其是。