On The Dunes  (Sara Teasdale, Aug 8, 1884 - Jan 29, 1933)

If there is any life when death is over,

     These tawny beaches will know much of me.

I shall come back, as constant and as changeful,

     As the unchanging many-colored sea.

If life was small, if it has made me scornful,

     Forgive me; I shall straighten like a flame.

In the great calm of death, and if you want me,

     Stand on the sea-ward dunes and call my name.

在沙丘

倘若於來生  徘徊舊沙灘

更迭如往昔  恰似海斑斕

生命祇須臾  悽惻情何堪

化身烈焰炙  死境更恬然

追憶沙丘畔  吾名且呼喚

今晨回中部掃墓, 和祖先相聚於時空交錯的一個句點中.  回到家恢復疲累後, 隨手翻很久以前曾讀過的這首美國女詩人 Sara Teasdale 寫的英文詩, 對上窮碧落下黃泉追尋至愛的境界更感淒美.  一時手癢, 試譯為中文詩.

Sara Teasdale 和詩人Vachel Lindsay  相戀, 卻嫁做商人婦 .  無緣的人倒是維持一世朋友情.  祇是 Sara 和商人也未白頭偕老,  1929 年離婚,  並在1933 年服安眠自殺, 結束紅顏薄命的一生.

(Nowhere 寫于 March 28, 2009)