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AIMLESS LOVE  - by Billy Collins   泛爱 - 比尔柯林斯 （摘柯林斯2013出版的诗集）

This morning as I walked along the lakeshore,  今早在湖边散步，
I fell in love with a wren                       我迷上了一只雀鸟
and later in the day with a mouse                 后来又迷上一只小鼠

the cat had dropped under the dining room table. 它是被猫丢在餐桌下的 。
In the shadows of an autumn evening,                在秋日傍晚的暮色中，
I fell for a seamstress                              我迷上了一个裁缝
still at her machine in the tailor’s window,         她还在窗边的缝纫机前做针线，
and later for a bowl of broth,                         再后来，是碗清汤
steam rising like smoke from a naval battle.            上升的雾气像一场海战
 
This is the best kind of love, I thought,  我想，这是最好的一种爱
without recompense, without gifts,          不求报偿、不求馈赠，
or unkind words, without suspicion,          没有尖刻、没有猜疑，
or silence on the telephone.                   没有电话中的沉默。
 
The love of the chestnut,                像对栗子的喜爱，
the jazz cap and one hand on the wheel.    以及爵士帽、和单手驾车
 
No lust, no slam of the door –          没有贪念、没有摔门–
the love of the miniature orange tree,     像对小桔盆栽的喜爱
the clean white shirt, the hot evening shower, 对洗净的白衬衫、炎热傍晚的冲凉、
the highway that cuts across Florida.            以及横贯佛罗里达的高速公路
 
No waiting, no huffiness, or rancor –      没有等待、没有恼怒、没有积怨–
just a twinge every now and then               只有偶尔的感伤
 
for the wren who had built her nest      对于筑巢的雀鸟
on a low branch overhanging the water     枝桠低低地悬在水面
and for the dead mouse,                     对于死去的小鼠
still dressed in its light brown suit.       依然穿着浅棕色的外套
 
But my heart is always propped up        但我的心总是候着
in a field on its tripod,                  在野外的三脚架上，
ready for the next arrow.                   等待下一个目标
 
After I carried the mouse by the tail    我拎着小鼠的尾巴
to a pile of leaves in the woods,            把它放进林中厚厚的落叶
I found myself standing at the bathroom sink   然后站在自己浴室的洗脸池边
gazing down affectionately at the soap,           脉脉地端详着肥皂
 
so patient and soluble,                    它耐用又易溶于水           
so at home in its pale green soap dish.      安然地躺在淡绿色的肥皂盒里
I could feel myself falling again              我感到自己又在着迷了
as I felt its turning in my wet hands           肥皂在湿润的双手里转动
and caught the scent of lavender and stone.      一阵薰衣草和湖石的气息飘来