奥运来了
利己主义者的反省
2008/08/17 21:31
Love at First Sight
by Wislawa Szymborska
They're both convinced
that a sudden passion joined them.
Such certainty is beautiful,
but uncertainty is more beautiful still.
Since they'd never met before, they're sure
that there'd been nothing between them.
But what's the word from the streets, staircases, hallways --
perhaps they've passed by each other a million times?
I want to ask them
if they don't remember --
a moment face to face
in some revolving door?
perhaps a "sorry" muttered in a crowd?
a curt "wrong number" caught in the receiver?
but I know the answer.
No, they don't remember.
They'd be amazed to hear
that Chance has been toying with them
now for years.
Not quite ready yet
to become their Destiny,
it pushed them close, drove them apart,
it barred their path,
stifling a laugh,
and then leaped aside.
There were signs and signals,
even if they couldn't read them yet.
Perhaps three years ago
or just last Tuesday
a certain leaf fluttered
from one shoulder to another?
Something was dropped and then picked up.
Who knows, maybe the ball that vanished
into childhood's thicket?
There were doorknobs and doorbells
where one touch had covered another
beforehand.
Suitcases checked and standing side by side.
One night, perhaps, the same dream,
grown hazy by morning.
Every beginning
is only a sequel, after all,
and the book of events
is always open halfway through.
一见钟情
他们彼此深信
是瞬间迸发的热情让他们相遇
这样的确定是美丽的
但变幻无常更为美丽
他们素未谋面
所以他们确定彼此并无任何瓜葛
但是听听自街道、楼梯、走廊传出的话语——
他俩或许擦肩而过一百万次了吧？
我想问他们
是否记不得了——
在旋转门
面对面那一刻？
或者在人群中喃喃说出的“对不起”？
或者在听筒截获的唐突的“打错了”？
然而我早知他们的答案。
是的，他们记不得了。
他们会感到诧异，倘若得知
缘分已玩弄他们
多年。
时机尚未成熟
成为他们命运的准备，
缘分将他们推近，驱离，
忍住笑声
阻挡他们的去路，
然后闪到一边。
有一些迹象和信号存在，
即使他们尚无法解读。
也许在三年前
或者就在上个星期二
有某片叶子飘舞于
肩与肩之间？
有东西掉了又捡了起来？
天晓得，也许是那个
消失于童年灌木丛中的球？
还有事前已被触摸
层层覆盖的
门把和门铃。
检查完毕后并排放置的手提箱。
有一晚，也许同样的梦，
到了早晨变得模糊。
每个开始
毕竟都只是续篇，
而充满情节的书本
总是从一半开始看起
-----------------------------------
不期而遇
我们彼此客套寒暄，
并说这是多年后难得的重逢。
我们的老虎啜饮牛奶。
我们的鹰隼行走于地面。
我们的鲨鱼溺毙水中。
我们的野狼在开着的笼前打呵欠。
我们的毒蛇已褪尽闪电，
猴子——灵感，孔雀——羽毛。
蝙蝠——距今已久——已飞离我们发间。
在交谈中途我们哑然以对，
无可奈何地微笑。
我们的人
无话可说。
----------------------------
致谢函
我亏欠那些
我不爱的人甚多。
另外有人更爱他们
让我宽心。
很高兴我不是
他们羊群里的狼。
和他们在一起我感到宁静，
我感到自由，
那是爱无法给予
和取走的。
我不会守着门窗
等候他们。
我的耐心
几可媲美日晷仪，
我了解
爱无法理解的事物，
我原谅
爱无法原谅的事物。
从见面到通信
不是永恒，
只不过几天或几个星期。
和他们同游总是一切顺心，
听音乐会，
逛大教堂，
饱览风景。
当七座山七条河
阻隔我们，
这些山河在地图上
一目了然。
感谢他们
让我生活在三度空间里，
在一个地平线因变动而真实，
既不抒情也不矫饰的空间。
他们并不知道
自己空着的手里盛放了好多东西。
“我不亏欠他们什么，”
对此未决的问题
爱会如是说。
by Wislawa Szymborska
They're both convinced
that a sudden passion joined them.
Such certainty is beautiful,
but uncertainty is more beautiful still.
Since they'd never met before, they're sure
that there'd been nothing between them.
But what's the word from the streets, staircases, hallways --
perhaps they've passed by each other a million times?
I want to ask them
if they don't remember --
a moment face to face
in some revolving door?
perhaps a "sorry" muttered in a crowd?
a curt "wrong number" caught in the receiver?
but I know the answer.
No, they don't remember.
They'd be amazed to hear
that Chance has been toying with them
now for years.
Not quite ready yet
to become their Destiny,
it pushed them close, drove them apart,
it barred their path,
stifling a laugh,
and then leaped aside.
There were signs and signals,
even if they couldn't read them yet.
Perhaps three years ago
or just last Tuesday
a certain leaf fluttered
from one shoulder to another?
Something was dropped and then picked up.
Who knows, maybe the ball that vanished
into childhood's thicket?
There were doorknobs and doorbells
where one touch had covered another
beforehand.
Suitcases checked and standing side by side.
One night, perhaps, the same dream,
grown hazy by morning.
Every beginning
is only a sequel, after all,
and the book of events
is always open halfway through.
一见钟情
他们彼此深信
是瞬间迸发的热情让他们相遇
这样的确定是美丽的
但变幻无常更为美丽
他们素未谋面
所以他们确定彼此并无任何瓜葛
但是听听自街道、楼梯、走廊传出的话语——
他俩或许擦肩而过一百万次了吧？
我想问他们
是否记不得了——
在旋转门
面对面那一刻？
或者在人群中喃喃说出的“对不起”？
或者在听筒截获的唐突的“打错了”？
然而我早知他们的答案。
是的，他们记不得了。
他们会感到诧异，倘若得知
缘分已玩弄他们
多年。
时机尚未成熟
成为他们命运的准备，
缘分将他们推近，驱离，
忍住笑声
阻挡他们的去路，
然后闪到一边。
有一些迹象和信号存在，
即使他们尚无法解读。
也许在三年前
或者就在上个星期二
有某片叶子飘舞于
肩与肩之间？
有东西掉了又捡了起来？
天晓得，也许是那个
消失于童年灌木丛中的球？
还有事前已被触摸
层层覆盖的
门把和门铃。
检查完毕后并排放置的手提箱。
有一晚，也许同样的梦，
到了早晨变得模糊。
每个开始
毕竟都只是续篇，
而充满情节的书本
总是从一半开始看起
-----------------------------------
不期而遇
我们彼此客套寒暄，
并说这是多年后难得的重逢。
我们的老虎啜饮牛奶。
我们的鹰隼行走于地面。
我们的鲨鱼溺毙水中。
我们的野狼在开着的笼前打呵欠。
我们的毒蛇已褪尽闪电，
猴子——灵感，孔雀——羽毛。
蝙蝠——距今已久——已飞离我们发间。
在交谈中途我们哑然以对，
无可奈何地微笑。
我们的人
无话可说。
----------------------------
致谢函
我亏欠那些
我不爱的人甚多。
另外有人更爱他们
让我宽心。
很高兴我不是
他们羊群里的狼。
和他们在一起我感到宁静，
我感到自由，
那是爱无法给予
和取走的。
我不会守着门窗
等候他们。
我的耐心
几可媲美日晷仪，
我了解
爱无法理解的事物，
我原谅
爱无法原谅的事物。
从见面到通信
不是永恒，
只不过几天或几个星期。
和他们同游总是一切顺心，
听音乐会，
逛大教堂，
饱览风景。
当七座山七条河
阻隔我们，
这些山河在地图上
一目了然。
感谢他们
让我生活在三度空间里，
在一个地平线因变动而真实，
既不抒情也不矫饰的空间。
他们并不知道
自己空着的手里盛放了好多东西。
“我不亏欠他们什么，”
对此未决的问题
爱会如是说。
