Like this I stand on a sloping road at dusk,

我這樣站在黃昏的斜路上

as if something’s happened. People glance, suspicious,

好像有什麼事發生，好像有什麼人懷疑我

wondering. They pass, looking where I look,

眼裏有重大的發現

as I reap with my eye these vegetables

他們經過，望著我站立

at one edge of the market, laid by rows

用雙眼收割市場外圍的蔬菜

in the same angled sunlight

一排排坐在斜日下休息

I receive. Each day I’ve savored their flesh,

和我一同接受，慢慢退卻的陽光

now bright, fresh-souled bitter-melon,

我天天咀嚼、品嚐蔬菜的肉體

tomatoes, Chinese cabbage, long beans

此刻看見它們亮著新鮮的靈魂

coiled in stacked wicker baskets,

苦瓜、番茄、白菜和豆角

as if in their last hours still growing,

纍纍地擠在籮筐裏

still adding color.

好像在最後的時辰，仍在膨脹，仍在著色

Like this I stand in the warm breeze,

我這樣站著站著就像一棵菜在泥土上等待

serenely peaceful on this earth,

風很暖和，蔬菜流露著大地揀選的寧靜

a vegetable unharvested,

這樣沉默，這樣放心，等待火：我奉獻

silent, offering, awaiting flame.