一件過於完美的事物難於記憶：

A thing too perfect to be remembered:

石頭只有在濕潤時美麗。

stone beautiful only when wet.

*   *   *

*     *     *

光或一塊黑布遮住了眼睛——

Blinded by light or black cloth—

有若干種方式

so many ways

看不見別人的苦難。

not to see others suffer.

*   *   *

*     *     *

渴望太深：

Too much longing:

它隔開我們

it separates us

像香氣之於面包，

like scent from bread,

鐵鏽之於鐵。

rust from iron.

*   *   *

*     *     *

從遠處或近處——

From very far or very close—

群山最堅決的褶皺是溫和的。

the most resolute folds of the mountain are gentle.

*   *   *

*     *     *

像把胳膊伸進羊毛外套的袖子那樣，

As if putting arms into woolen coat sleeves,

我們傾聽死者的低語。

we listen to the murmuring dead.

*   *   *

*     *     *

一個圓圈從它的任意一點開始：

Any point of a circle is its start:

欲望拒絕滿足為了使欲望延續。

desire forgoing fulfillment to go on desiring.

*   *   *

*     *     *

在一間什麼都沒有

In a room in which nothing

發生過的房間，

has happened,

煙草的甜味。

sweet-scented tobacco.

*   *   *

*     *     *

老邁的人，手像身體佝僂著，想起他們的父母。

The very old, hands curling into themselves, remember their parents.

*   *   *

*     *     *

讓思想暴露弱點，否則孤獨。

Think assailable thoughts, or be lonely.

譯注：英文題目「Sentencings」也有宣判之意，詩人把頭腦中的想法變成紙上的詩行，也可稱之為一種宣判。