Poem 341

J341

After great pain a formal feeling comes-

 

The nerves sit ceremonious like tombs

 

The stiff heart questions-was it He that bore?

 

And yesterday-or centuries before?

 

The feet, mechanical, go round

 

A wooden way

5

Of ground, or air, or ought,

 

Regardless grown,

 

A quartz contentment, like a stone

 

That is the hour of lead

 

Remembered if outlived,

10

As freezing persons recollect the snow-

 

First chill, then stupor then letting go.

 

 
 
  Annotation

Line

Word or phrase

Annotation

1

formal feeling

發僵的感覺。

2

The nerves sit ceremonious like tombs

體內神經的活動像墳墓披地呆滯。

3

The stiff heart-

僵硬的心靈。

 

was it He that bore?

使(心靈和肉體)受苦的就是他嗎?他(He)指的是Jesus Christ。bore作pierce或penetrate解。如bore(bear的的過去式)作endured或tolerate解,其意為 「受苦的就是耶穌嗎」。

5

mechanical 

如機械般的呆板,指步伐呆板。

5-6

 go round. A wooden way

呆板地走來走去。

6

 ought

無物,同aught或nothing,右指足部失去活動之力,走路踩不到東西。

8

Regardless grown

grown同become,受得漠不關心。

9

A quartz contentment

如石英石般的安分滿足,因為石英全無死亡痛苦的感覺。

10

the hour of lead

心情沉重的時辰。

11

Remembered if outlived

如久活而記住,意謂人如渡過了這心情沉重的時辰而仍能記憶。

12

freezing persons

凍得打顫的人 。

13

chill

酷冷 。

 

stupor

無感覺,昏迷。

 

letting go

不再掙扎。