散文欣賞：若君逢秋至

If You Were Coming in the Fall

Emily Dickson If you were coming in the fall, I'd brush the summer by With half a smile and half a spurn, As housewives do a fly.

如果你能在秋季來到，

我會用撣子把夏季撣掉，

一半輕蔑，一半含笑，

像管家婦把蒼蠅趕跑。

If i could see you in a year, I'd wind the months in balls, And put them each in separate drawers, Until their time befalls. 如果一年後能夠見你，

我將把月份纏繞成團——

分別存放在不同的抽屜，

免得，混淆了日期——

If only centuries delayed, I'd count them on my hand, Subtracting till my fingers dropped Into Van Diemen's land. 如果只耽擱幾個世紀，

我會用我的手算計——

把手指逐一屈起，直到

全部倒伏在亡人國裏。

If certain when this life was out, That yours and mine should be I'd toss it youder like a rind, And taste eternity. 如果確知，聚會在生命——

你的'和我的生命，結束時——

我願意把生命拋棄——

如同拋棄一片果皮——

But now all ignorant of the length Of time's uncertain wing, It goads me like the goblin bee, That will not state its sting

但是現在難以確知 相隔還有多長時日—— 這狀況刺痛我有如妖蜂—— 祕而不宣，那是毒刺。