If you were coming in the fall

If you were coming in the fall

如果你能在秋季来到

作者：Emily Dickinson，译者：江枫

If you were coming in the fall,

如果你能在秋季来到，

I'd brush the summer by

我会用掸子把秋季掸掉，

With half a smile and half a spurn,

一半轻蔑，一半含笑，

As housewives do a fly.

像管家妇把苍蝇赶跑。

If I could see you in a year,

如果一年后能够见你，

I'd wind the months in balls,

我将把岁月缠绕成团 —

And put them each in separate drawers,

分别存放在不同的抽屉，

Until their time befalls.

免得，混淆了日期 —

If only centuries delayed,

如果只耽搁几个世纪，

I'd count them on my hand,

我会用我的手算计 —

Subtracting till my fingers dropped

把手指逐一屈起，直到

Into Van Diemen’s land.

全部倒伏在亡人国里。

If certain, when this life was out,

如果确知，聚会在生命 —

That yours and mine should be,

你的和我的生命，结束时 —

I'd toss it yonder like a rind,

我愿意把生命抛弃 —

And taste eternity.

如同抛弃一片果皮 —

But now, all ignorant of the length

但是现在难以确知

Of time's uncertain wing,

相隔还有多长时日 —

It goads me, like the goblin bee,

这状况刺痛我有如妖蜂 —

That will not state its sting.

秘而不宣，是那毒刺。