A poem should be palpable and mute

诗应该沉默，但可触可摸

As a globed fruit,

如长圆了的水果，

Dumb

沉寂

As old medallions to the thumb,

如手指抚摸下的古币，

Silent as the sleeve-worn stone

无声如石窗台

Of casement ledges where the moss has grown—

被衣袖拂光，长了绿苔——

A poem should be wordless

诗应无言

As the flight of birds.

如鸟儿飞旋。

                         *

*

A poem should be motionless in time

诗应当在时间中凝然不动

As the moon climbs,

如明月冉冉升空，

Leaving, as the moon releases

松开，如明月

Twig by twig the night-entangled trees,

逐一松开夜影紧缠的树枝，

Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves,

松开，如冬夜疏叶后的明月，

Memory by memory the mind—

逐一松开心灵的回忆——

A poem should be motionless in time

诗应当在时间中凝然不动，

As the moon climbs.

如明月冉冉升空。

                         *

*

A poem should be equal to:

诗应当对等

Not true.

而不真。

For all the history of grief

代表哀史凑切，

An empty doorway and a maple leaf.

是门户空寂，一片枫叶，

For love

代表爱，

The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea—

是芳草依依，双星映海——

A poem should not mean

诗不应“指义”，

But be.

而应“存在”。