because I could not stop for death by EMILY DICKINSON

Because I could not stop for Death – (479)

BY EMILY DICKINSON

 

Because I could not stop for Death –

He kindly stopped for me –

The Carriage held but just Ourselves –

And Immortality.

 

We slowly drove – He knew no haste

And I had put away

My labor and my leisure too,

For His Civility –

 

We passed the School, where Children strove

At Recess – in the Ring –

We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –

We passed the Setting Sun –

 

Or rather – He passed Us –

The Dews drew quivering and Chill –

For only Gossamer, my Gown –

My Tippet – only Tulle –

 

We paused before a House that seemed

A Swelling of the Ground –

The Roof was scarcely visible –

The Cornice – in the Ground –

 

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet

Feels shorter than the Day

I first surmised the Horses' Heads

Were toward Eternity –

 

因我不为死亡停步

 

因我不为死亡停步

他便恭候驻足

马车载着我俩 

和永生共赴

 

我们缓行， 他亦自如

他彬彬相辅

让我弃劳逸之俗

随他同渡

 

我们驶过校园

望孩童嬉戏

我们驶过茂盛农田

我们驶过余晖落日

 

抑或, 落日话别离

任露水携着严寒

穿透我蝉翼般

长衣和披肩

 

我们停候残屋前

那屋宛若小丘山

屋顶差可见

沉土埋飞檐

 

那一刻后的百年路  

却短过那一日的里程

我猜那日的马儿

在驶向灵魂的永恒