這是一段岩心

This is a core sample

取自縫紉之洋的海床，

from the floor of the Sea of Mending,

圓柱狀的樣本擠滿貝殼，

a cylinder packed with shells

它們經年累月

that over many years

從若干英尋襯衫中沉落——

sank through fathoms of shirts—

珍珠扣，藍鈕扣——

pearl buttons, blue buttons—

壘積一處

and settled together

匿於不懈的浪濤之下，

beneath waves of perseverance,

女人們曾一代代

an ocean upon which

從這大海上起航，

generations of women set forth,

以格子窗簾為帆，

under the sails of gingham curtains,

然後，並肩坐在

and, seated side by side

不時被淚水浸鹹的甲板上，

on decks sometimes salted by tears,

從事不可或缺的細瑣的補綴。

made small but important repairs.