秋天的暑气

The heat of autumn

和夏日的不同。

is different from the heat of summer.

前者催熟苹果，后者把苹果变成酒浆。

One ripens apples, the other turns them to cider.

前者是你可以漫步的栈桥，

One is a dock you walk out on,

后者是游泳的瘦马的脊背

the other the spine of a thin swimming horse

而河水每天都会降温整整一度。

and the river each day a full measure colder.

一个得了癌症的男人离开妻子去找他的情人。

A man with cancer leaves his wife for his lover.

在他走之前她拉直他衣橱里的腰带，

Before he goes she straightens his belts in the closet,

根据颜色整理袜子

rearranges the socks and sweaters inside the dresser

和汗衫。这就是秋天的暑气：

by color. That’s autumn heat:

她的手把银色的皮带扣和银色的放在一起，

her hand placing silver buckles with silver,

金色的和金色的凑成一堆，让它们

gold buckles with gold, setting each

在衣钩上各就其位，虽然这个衣橱很快就会空空如也，

on the hook it belongs on in a closet soon to be empty,

她说自己乐在其中。

and calling it pleasure.