1. In A Monastery Garden

1. In A Monastery Garden

Against these walls

wisteria, honeysuckle, clematis

and varied wandering ivies

curl and twist

spiralling tendrils. Woody gnarls

push up delicate green

feelers. Ages ago, monks

planted these wall-huggers, as

if to remind themselves

how such plants, even

though dependent and spending

much time in shadow

thrive on a cultivation

so quiet and patient their slow

determined thrust may seem

almost a permanence.

Coiling, tenacious, they grip

cement and brickwork

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time to stay                         inside the courtyard

Translation:

1. 在修道院花园

依着这些墙

紫藤、忍冬、铁线莲

还有各种蜿蜒藤类

蜷曲弯转

盘旋的卷须。木质的结节

向上推举脆弱的绿色

触须。许多年代前，修士

种下这些墙壁拥抱者，仿佛

提醒他们自己

这些植物是如何，尽管

要依附要度过

大部分时光在阴影中

却因培育而繁荣

这么安静这么耐心它们缓慢

而坚定的驱动力像是

几乎一种永恒。

盘卷，坚忍不拔，它们抓紧

水泥和砖头的建筑

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时间驻留                                   庭院之内

                                                                (陈尚真 译)