Because I could not stop for Death - 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 –

我無法邀死亡同行

我無法邀死亡同行
是祂體貼的為我停下
馬車上載著我倆
以及永生

我們緩緩前進--祂不匆不忙
我也拋下了
世間的勞動和娛樂
祂是如此誠摯有禮

我們路過學校時
是孩童們玩樂的下課時間
我們路過一片片種植穀物的農田
我們也路過漸漸落下的夕陽

或者說--是他路過我們
寒意刺骨的露珠讓我顫抖
我身上僅僅穿著薄紗的披肩和衣服

我們停在一棟房子前
看似地上隆起之物
看不到屋頂
房簷已在地上

從那時起--已經過了好幾世紀--然而
感覺彷彿比那一整天還短
我想那天馬車前往的方向
是永恆