What happens when you die? A poetic inquiry

Take a ride in Emily Dickinson's chariot.

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Helen Chang

搭上艾蜜莉·狄更生的馬車吧。

But beware... there's no turning back.

但，要注意…… 這趟旅程是無法回頭的。

"Because I could not stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson

《我不能為死神駐足》 作者：艾蜜莉·狄更生

【採用「云天」翻譯的版本】

Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me –

因我不能為死亡駐足，

他便和藹等候。

The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality.

馬車上只載著我們倆， 還有永恆伴守。

We slowly drove – He knew no haste And I had put away

他不急不慌駕車緩行，

我也將塵世的勞作和休閒 通通放手拋開，

My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility –

與他禮尚往來。

We passed the School, where Children strove

路經學校正課間休息，

At Recess – in the Ring – We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –

孩童圍圈嬉耍。

路經凝視的畦畦田野。

We passed the Setting Sun –

路經落日飛霞，

Or rather – He passed Us – The Dews drew quivering and Chill –

或說是落日路經我們。

寒露令我打顫。

For only Gossamer, my Gown – My Tippet – only Tulle –

因為我只有薄紗為衫；

只以輕絲覆肩。

We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground –

我們在一座屋前歇腳，

屋似土丘隆起。

The Roof was scarcely visible – The Cornice – in the Ground –

屋頂隱隱幾乎瞧不見，

屋簷埋在地裡。

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet Feels shorter than the Day

自那時又是幾個世紀，

卻覺比那天短，

I first surmised the Horses' Heads Were toward Eternity –

我打一開始就已猜到，

馬首朝向恆遠。