I like to watch an old man cutting a sandwich in half,

我喜欢看一个老人把一块三明治切成两半，

maybe an ordinary cold roast beef on whole wheat bread,

也许就是普通的冷烤牛肉加全麦面包，

no pickles or onion, keeping his shaky hands steady

by placing his forearms firm on the edge of the table

没有腌菜或洋葱，把前臂牢牢地放在餐桌边缘

and using both hands, the left to hold the sandwich in place,

and the right to cut it surely, corner to corner,

以使他颤抖的手保持稳定，

observing his progress through glasses that moments before

两只手一起用，左手在合适的位置按住三明治，

he wiped with his napkin, and then to see him lift half

onto the extra plate that he asked the server to bring,

右手稳稳地切，角对角，

and then to wait, offering the plate to his wife

透过眼镜观察他的进展，就在

while she slowly unrolls her napkin and places her spoon,

之前，他用餐巾擦净了眼镜，然后看着他举起一半

her knife, and her fork in their proper places,

放到他请服务生拿来的那个额外的盘子上，

then smooths the starched white napkin over her knees

and meets his eyes and holds out both old hands to him.

然后等着，把那个盘子递给他的妻子

当她慢慢地展开她的餐巾，放好她的勺子，

她的餐刀，和她的餐叉，放在它们合适的位置，

然后把浆过的白色餐巾在她的膝上抚平

然后迎着他的目光把两只苍老的手一起伸向他时。