The dead pig, moss-cloaked,

渾身長滿青苔的死豬，

sleeps deep as an ancient bell.

沉睡著，好像一口古鐘。

Afloat, refusing burial,

牠要把腐爛呈現在這條河流上，

it offers the river its rot.

不允許我們把牠掩埋。

A slim bird lands on the hide,

偶爾，一隻路過的細鳥站在牠身上，

in its beak the gold fruit of the chinaberry.

嘴裡銜著一枚金黃的楝樹果。

In the church, greyhaired Father Huang

教堂裡，頭髮花白的黃牧師

speaks Christ’s words on the cross:

正在講授耶穌上十字架時講的那句話：

“They know not what they do.”

「他們幹了什麼，他們自己也不曉得」。

The farm women listen, silent

農婦們默默聆聽，好像扶在船幫上落水人的手臂。

as the hands of those gone overboard

clutching a boatside.