SAYING SOMETHING

SAYING SOMETHING

Carol Ann Duffy

Things assume your shape; discarded clothes, a damp shroud

in the bathroom, vacant hands. This is not fiction. This is

the plain and warm material of love. My heart assumes it.

We wake. Our private language starts the day. We make

familiar movements through the house. The dreams we have

no phrases for slip through our fingers into smoke.

I dreamed I was not with you. Wandering in a city

where you did not live, I stared at strangers, searching

for a word to make them you. I woke beside you.

Sweetheart, I say. Pedestrian daylight terms scratch

darker surfaces. Your absence leaves me with the ghost

of love; half-warm coffee cups or sheets, the gentlest kiss.

Walking home, I see you turning on the lights. I come in

from outside calling your name, saying something.

聊天

卡罗尔·安·达菲

残存于琐碎之间，你的身影；弃置的旧衣、浴室中

一褶湿帘、一双空荡的手。这绝非虚构。不过是

构成爱的部分，清朴尚温。我的心如此假设。

一天醒于彼此喃喃私语。让熟悉的举动梭行着

充盈房间。不可尽述的梦

从我们指尖滑落，弥进烟雾

我梦见自己不曾同你一起，游荡在

你从未生活过的城市，注视着陌生人，寻觅

一个恰当的词语，使之成为你。醒来时，我在你身边。

亲爱的，我说。黯淡的日光会刺破

更沉的表象。你的缺失仅留给我爱的幻影；

残温的咖啡杯或是被单，一个吻，极轻。

走回家时，我看见你正开灯，一面进来

并从外面呼唤你的名字，闲聊着什么

译/颜雯迪