Because I could not stop for Death by Emily Dickinson

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—

译文：

因为我不能停下来等待死神—艾米丽·狄金森

因为我不能停下来等待死神——

他却好心好意地停下来接我——

车内只有我和他——

不对，还有“永恒”。

我们驱车慢行——他不慌不忙

而我呢，我不再劳作

也不再闲暇

以报答他的礼貌——

我们经过学校，孩子们正追逐喧闹，

恰是课间——操场欢腾——

我们经过望着我们的谷田——

我们经过西下的太阳——

或可说——是太阳经过我们——

露水带来了凉意和寒颤——

因为我衣薄如纱——

我肩只披绢——

我们在一幢房子前停车，

它似是地面隆起——

房顶几乎看不见——

屋檐——在地中——

自那以后——几百年过去了——然而

却感觉比那一天还短，

那一天我猜测拉车的马

头朝向永恒而去。

（李正栓 译）