夏夜里，世界

On summer nights the world

在听力范围内移动，

moves within earshot

在州际公路上，伴随嗖嗖声，

on the interstate with its swish

隆隆声，偶尔的警笛声

and growl, and occasional siren

令一阵惊寒漫过我们。

that sends chills through us.

有时，晴朗寂静的夜里，

Sometimes, on clear, still nights,

声音飘进我们的卧室，

voices float into our bedroom,

微弱而破碎，

lunar and fragmented,

仿佛远在我们出生前，

as if the sky had let them go

天空已发出它们。

long before our birth.

冬天，我们关窗

In winter we close the windows

读契诃夫，

and read Chekhov,

为他的世界几近流泪。

nearly weeping for his world.

多么奢侈，如此幸福

What luxury, to be so happy

我们能为虚构的生命

that we can grieve

而悲伤。

over imaginary lives.