约瑟夫·特理尔的结论（英）安德鲁·牟申 凯岚译

约瑟夫·特理尔的结论 （英）安德鲁·牟申 凯岚译
加辛顿，牛津， 1867
我想我生来应该过安静的生活；
是否能做到
是另外一回事，
去狩猎云雀
收割，灯笼果，等等。
接着就是和娜提的关系；
她会还是不会；
我做了还是没做？
我相信
我在她门前花更多功夫猛踢自己的脚跟
而不是在门后愉悦
但是嘿呵。
阿诺多米尼提出严峻的事实，
当我们把自己的生活和
我们想象的比较
会发现漏洞……
在树林中的月光下漫步
能解决一切问题。
我现在就试试。
我看见树枝上的麻雀像晾衣夹,
使我格外开心
我把一个麻雀巢和四只小鸟带回了家。
The Conclusion of Joseph Turrill
Garsington, Oxfordshire, 1867
I suppose I was cut out for a quiet life;
whether I have managed any such thing
is another matter,
what with larks to shoot,
and harvesting, gooseberries, and whatnot.
Then there was all that with Netty:
would she or wouldn’t she;
did I or didn’t I?
It is my belief
I spent more hours kicking my heels at her gate
than happy the other side.
Be that as it may,
Anno Domini drives out stern matters of fact,
and faults that appear to us
when we compare the lives we have
with those we imagine…
There’s nothing a gentle stroll
in the woods by moonlight can’t put right.
I tried that just now.
I saw swallows on the branches like clothes pegs,
which put me in such good humour
I brought home one of their nests and also four chicks.
选自 《新译外国诗人20家》 诗刊社编 广西师范大学出版社 2021年1月出版
英语原诗摘自英文网站
配图：孙为民 荷塘八月