This is a core sample

這是一段岩心

from the floor of the Sea of Mending,

取自縫紉之洋的海床，

a cylinder packed with shells

圓柱狀的樣本擠滿貝殼，

that over many years

它們經年累月

sank through fathoms of shirts—

從若干英尋襯衫中沉落——

pearl buttons, blue buttons—

珍珠扣，藍鈕扣——

and settled together

壘積一處

beneath waves of perseverance,

匿於不懈的浪濤之下，

an ocean upon which

女人們曾一代代

generations of women set forth,

從這大海上起航，

under the sails of gingham curtains,

以格子窗簾為帆，

and, seated side by side

然後，並肩坐在

on decks sometimes salted by tears,

不時被淚水浸鹹的甲板上，

made small but important repairs.

從事不可或缺的細瑣的補綴。