Pearls That Were (1999)

J. H. Prynne

Over the ferny leaf-blades lying close to the bank and now deeper green from the dry weather a network of bright gossamer threads, woven close together and catching the slant evening sun so as to shimmer with a soft, trembling brilliancy; we both remarked on it ...

On the blush cheek making, to one

  making to the one, a stealing

tear, of blushing as every age

  betrays the sight, alone.

By light, ask and mellow reflected

  then show to hope again

doubt yet believing, request the lost,

  the blush to shine.

Concerns starting bright and oft

  soft yielding, blush shining,

charm to hand, around the wound

  her finest charm glowing.

So Orpheus tamed the wild beasts

  for long night comes down

moving naked, over the wound,

  the gem from the crown.

……

Translation：

是——珍珠，是

蒲齡恩

緊靠河岸的是蕨類一樣的葉子，因為乾燥的天氣而綠得深沉。葉子上方，是緊緊地織在一起的蛛網薄紗。薄紗在斜陽下溫柔地顫抖著閃光。我們倆都注意到了……

潮紅的面頰上，一個人

  為那個人製造，一粒偷來的

淚珠，不比任何時代遜色

  獨自，和這景致不和。

憑著陽光，追尋、醞釀、思索

  接著又燃燒希望

在懷疑之中信任，要求失去的，

  潮紅般閃光。

關懷來了，常常

  滑向溫柔，紅紅地閃耀，

手染上魅力，傷口周圍

  她最美妙的魅力在燃燒。

如此，奧菲士馴服了野獸

  漫漫的長夜來臨

赤身行進，傷口上方，

  從皇冠摘下的寶石。

……

                               （黎志敏 譯）