Burbling its verb

傾倒茶壺內的語言

poured from the teapot,

冒出裊裊白煙

white steam rises

從此刻起逐漸冷卻

before it cools.

那簡短的對答像幾聲錚錝弦音

A short dialogue with air,

還餘下多少時間

chordal as plucked strings.

凝結的空氣就溶化為水？

How long until

移動的秒針

these notes resolve as water?

指向最後一班開出的車

Toward the day’s last bus

the second hand advances.

靜物開始移動

畫中的花卉也瘋狂地

Still lives alter.

移近太陽

Even in a painting,

但二人仍然靜止

motionless flowers

女子看錶

twist sunward.

男子唱家鄉的曲

She checks her watch,

為失去的分秒配上歌詞

he hums a song from his hometown,

filling final moments with its tune.

藉著午後斜射的陽光

看見室內各式物件

In the slant light of afternoon

明亮而整齊

objects in the room

二人被照亮了一半的臉

look bright and ordered.

總在說話時稍微改換角度

The man’s and woman’s shining faces

明亮了一些，同時幽暗了另一些

shift in conversation,

悄悄地把說出的話

one angle gleaming, one gone dim,

放入另一邊臉的陰影裏去

their words sliding

from the light.

傾斜，再傾斜

二人的影蓋在桌上

Slant, more slant.

再移到地上

Shadows on the table

趁著還有光

slowly claim the floor,

它的期限都寫在窗邊

shadow clouding shadow.

二人不動的影暫作地面的雲

The terms for what is left

雲影下面再有

are written on the window.

另一對傾斜的影