試譯：〈早上，思考着帝國〉 瑞蒙·卡佛【Morning, Thinking of Empire－Raymond Carver】

 〈早上，思考着帝國〉　　瑞蒙·卡佛（試譯：淺白）
 
我們讓口唇呡上杯沿的瓷釉
而清楚曉得，這漾在咖啡面的油脂層
將在某天終止我們的心跳。目光隨手指
落到實質並非是銀器的銀器上。窗的外面
海浪擊打着這舊城削損的牆垣
你從粗糙的桌布上提起手
像正欲有所預言。你的雙唇顫抖……
我想說，管它見鬼吧將來
我們的未來深藏在此一下午裏
那是一條逼仄的街道，有一架拉車和車伕
該車伕看見我們，稍為遲疑
接着又自顧自搖了搖頭。與此同時
我冷然敲裂了一隻好看的萊亨雞蛋
你的眼神轉濛。你將視線移離我，轉身，
越過屋脊，看向背後的大海。甚至連蒼蠅也凝止不動。
我敲裂另一隻蛋
無疑我們已減損彼此了
 
10/5/2022初稿
 

Morning, Thinking of Empire 

by Raymond Carver
 
We press our lips to the enameled rim of the cups
and know this grease that floats
over the coffee will one day stop our hearts.
Eyes and fingers drop onto silverware
that is not silverware. Outside the window, waves
beat against the chipped walls of the old city.
Your hands rise from the rough tablecloth
as if to prophesy. Your lips tremble...
I want to say to hell with the future.
Our future lies deep in the afternoon.
It is a narrow street with a cart and driver,
a driver who looks at us and hesitates,
then shakes his head. Meanwhile,
I coolly crack the egg of a fine Leghorn chicken.
Your eyes film. You turn from me and look across
the rooftops at the sea. Even the flies are still.
I crack the other egg.
Surely we have diminished one another.