if not utterly exhausted

在不是最疲累的時刻

one can still write

還是可以寫詩

in this

在這方面來說

poetry shows us mercy

詩對我們還是仁慈的

between white boards, work gloves,

夾在白木板間的勞工手套

their woven hands closed or laid open

線織指掌或是合上，或是攤開

demonstrate the texture of destiny

展示命運的紋理

is there somewhere a broken thread?

有哪一處崩斷了嗎？

they open to say nothing to hide

攤開，告訴你沒有什麽需要隱藏

they close to end conversation

合上，拒絕與你繼續對話

a mop used time after time goes gray

拖把用久了也變成灰白

propped against a rail or window

擱在欄干上，擱在窗旁

it becomes a forgotten lover

變成我們遺忘的戀人

repressed regret

壓抑了的遺憾

cancer thriving in the dark

癌細胞在陰暗中滋長

during treatment people feel drained

治療的時候人變得疲累

poetry shows us mercy

詩對我們還是仁慈的

though weary, one can write

累了也還可以寫詩