Visiting Stanley Kunitz Michael Longley I have flown the Atlantic To reach you in your chair. Cuddling(拥抱) up, we talk about Flowers, important things, And hold hands to celebrate Spring gentian's heavenly (Strictly speaking) blue. You grow anemones(海葵,银莲花) , You say, wind's daughters. I say the world should name A flower after you, Stanley. We read each other poems. You who'll be a hundred soon Take forever to sign My copy of Passing Through. What flower can I offer you From Ireland? Bog asphodel Is the colour of your shirt. Grass of Parnassus? Mountain Everlasting in New York? Your zimmer-gavotte(嘉禾舞) suggests Madder with its goose-grassy Tenacity(韧性,固执) , your age-spots Winter-flowering mudwort. But no, no. Let it be Spring gentian, summer sky At sunset, Athene's eyes, Five petals, earthbound(只在地面的) star. |