很早以前我們就不再抬起腳跟

Long ago we quit lifting our heels

像其他動物那樣——馬，狗，老虎——

like the others—horse, dog, and tiger—

但牠們逃跑的速度

though we thrill to their speed

讓我們興奮。即便一只老鼠

as they flee. Even the mouse

在搬運一粒狗糧的偉大重量時

bearing the great weight of a nugget

也優雅得令人羨慕。

of dog food is enviably graceful.

我們的步伐缺少彈性，

There is little spring to our walk,

我們被責任壓迫，

we are so burdened with responsibility,

被所有落在我們身上

all of the disciplinary actions

為紀律所約束的行為，懲戒，

that have fallen to us, the punishments,

殺戮，與此同時，我們的腳

the killings, and all with our feet

裹在被征服者的皮膚裏變得僵硬。

bound stiff in the skins of the conquered.

但有時候，在淩晨，

But sometimes, in the early hours,

我們能體會到成為他們之一

we can feel what it must have been like

是什麼滋味，踮起腳尖，

to be one of theme, up on our toes,

偷偷經過別人熟睡的門口，

stealing past doors where others are sleeping,

突然被賦予黑暗中的視力。

and suddenly able to see in the dark.