Caitlin's Queen of Hearts

The Dead

by Billy Collins


他們說，死者總是從天上望著我們
The dead are always looking down on us, they say.

當我們正在穿鞋時，或吃著牛排的時候
while we are putting on our shoes or eating a steak,

死者緩慢划過永恆，透過天堂中的透明玻璃船底看著我們
they are looking down through the glass bottom boats of heaven
as they row themselves slowly through eternity.

看著我們在人間庸庸碌碌
They watch the tops of our heads moving below on earth,
 

而當我們將頭仰在沙發上
and when we lie down in a field or on a couch,

被煩悶的下午搞的頭暈腦脹時
drugged perhaps by the hum of a long afternoon,

他們認為我們也回望著他們
they think we are looking back at them,

讓他們停下划槳的動作，靜默著等待
which makes them lift their oars and fall silent

像是父母等待孩子合上雙眼一樣
and wait, like parents, for us to close our eyes.