一致性

by 霍华德·奈莫洛夫

十一月未完，仅在一个夜晚
甚至尚无霜冻，站立在
步行道旁的银杏树 一致地
放弃所有叶子，既无雨也无风
而似乎仅因为时间自身：今天的草地上
金色、绿色叶子一片狼藉，而昨天
它们亮晃晃的扇子布满高高的天空。
星辰发出什么信号？感觉到它什么了？
这些木质动机里，是何物驱使
休弃自身树叶，使之坠落
反叛耶投降耶？如果这一切
可如此发生，什么种类将得以豁免？
学习时间所教训的知识又有何益，
倘若一颗寒星随时会向我们泄漏天机：时辰已到。

 

（微笑，译）

 

"The Consent"
from "The Western Approaches"
(1975)

Late in November, on a single night
Not even near to freezing, the ginkgo trees
That stand along the walk drop all their leaves
In one consent, and neither to rain nor to wind
But as though to time alone: the golden and green
Leaves litter the lawn today, that yesterday
Had spread aloft their fluttering fans of light.
What signal from the stars? What senses took it in?
What in those wooden motives so decided
To strike their leaves, to down their leaves,
Rebellion or surrender? and if this
Can happen thus, what race shall be exempt?
What use to learn the lessons taught by time,
If a star at any time may tell us: Now.

（HOWARD NEMEROV，1920-1991）