Death And The Poet Poem by Luo Zhihai

★ Death And The Poet

☆ Poetry by Juan Olivarez


At the stroke of midnight, I saw his face,
Eyes shining with a yellow light.
Right through to my soul, they seemed to gaze,
With empty sockets, that somehow held sight.

A long boney finger, pointed at me,
As a cold chill filled my heart.
He whispered it's you I've come to see,
I have your name, here on my chart.

You were supposed to come with me,
But things have been rearranged.
I came to set your spirit free,
But my orders have been changed.

It seems your work here is not done,
Said his unearthly voice.
So in the morning you'll see the sun,
Not that you ever had a choice.

I will see you again, and that I guarantee,
But I can't tell you how or when.
But be assured one day you'll be,
With me, just like you should have been.

And now your signature is required,
On this release I have for you.
You wouldn't want to see me fired,
Cause this is the only thing I do.

Right on the X, please be so kind,
And I'll be on my way.
Now I must hurry if you don't mind,
Cause I've got lots to do today.

And he was gone no puff of smoke,
He just walked out the door.
I hope you don't think this one big joke,
And I hope I didn't bore.

3/24/11 Alton Texas
2011年3月24日德克萨斯州奥尔顿


◆ Chinese Translation

★ 死神与诗人

☆ [美] 胡安•奥利瓦雷斯 诗
☆ [中] 罗志海 译


午夜钟声敲响，我看到他的脸
两眼黄光忽悠闪
直直穿透我灵魂，其他的似乎在凝神旁观
不知何故，绞尽脑汁，专注的视线

一个瘦骨嶙峋的长手指，指着我
我的心像咽了一股冰寒
他低声说，这是你，我是来看看
我有你的名字，在我的图册里面

你应该跟我来
但事情已经重新安排
我是来释放，你灵魂自由自在
但我的命令已被更改

看来你尚未干完这儿的活
他用神秘的声音说
因此你会看到清晨的太阳
这并不代表，你有得选择

我会再见到你，而且我担保
但我不能告诉你如何见何时见
请放心，总有一天你会随我一道
就像你今天已经与我见面

现在你在这个版本里
我有你签名的要求
你不想看到我被解雇，是不是？
因为这是我唯一能做的事

X的右侧，请贴心点
我会以我的方式
如果现在你不介意，我必须抓紧时间
因为我今天有许多活要干

他没有腾云驾雾，走了
他刚走出大门，又说
我希望你不要觉得这个玩笑开大了
我希望我没捅娄子惹祸


北京时间2015年1月12日翻译
Beijing time on January 12,2015 Translation


译后感悟：这首诗道出了我六十岁的心境。
中国人六十耳顺。我已六十，已成熟，已垂老，时日无多，死神很快将眷顾。"我会再见到你，而且我担保/但我不能告诉你如何见何时见/请放心，总有一天你会随我一道/就像你今天已经与我见面"。
正因为成熟，正因此垂老，我才凑巧进入中国诗歌与英美诗歌交集的世界。我不知道还能翻译多少年？我无法保鲜成熟，无法保鲜垂老，但我的中英文对照诗歌也许可以保鲜延寿若干年。死神，请你慢步来临吧！