I Was Afraid of Dying

Once,

I was afraid of dying

In a field of dry weeds.

But now,

All day long I have been walking among damp fields,

Trying to keep still, listening

To insects that move patiently.

Perhaps they are sampling the fresh dew that gathers slowly

In empty snail shells

And in the secret shelters of sparrow feathers fallen on the earth.

我害怕死亡

詹姆斯/赖特（美国）

我曾经害怕死在

一片干枯的草地上

但现在

我已经在潮湿的田野上漫步了一整天

努力保持安静，谛听

那些忍耐的爬虫

猜想它们正畅饮甘露

从空蜗牛的躯壳和散落地面的

麻雀羽毛所覆盖的隐秘处

2018.10.24禾青子译