如果时间是一卷布，棉质

If time were a bolt of cloth, cotton

印花点缀着翼龙，

print flecked with pterodactyls,

我会选择皮革。

I’d opt for leather.

摩托夹克，鹿皮

Motorcycle jackets, deerskin

裤衩儿。我会尾随哺乳动物

panties. I’d stalk mammals

沿着丹宁高速路，造梦

along denim highways, dream

在它们油亮的皮毛间，或者

between their oily pelts, or else

我会是一个史学家

I’d be a historian chart progress

以衣蛾蛀洞的尺寸，丈量历史进程。

by the size of the moth holes.

我会沿着磨损线头

I’d inspect settlements split

侦察居住地的分裂，海滨城镇

along fray lines, seaside towns

淹没于蓝色锦缎，珊瑚挂毯

drowned in blue damask, reefy tapestries.

后来，我会赢得尊重

Later, I’d be revered for my role

因为解放蜘蛛

in emancipating the spiders

与蚕。我会活着看见我的剪影

and silkworms. I’d live to see my silhouette

拼接进公共广场。却仍然

patchworked into public squares. Still,

无法终止宏大的拆解

there’d be no way to stop the great unravelling.

我会将自己制成皮革，求其保全。

I would tan my own hide to save it.