Orb weavers
织布工

Once upon the moment of beauty laid long past
曾有一刻，美丽无人问津
the itch on the cheek of a mute mouth clasped
镜中人，脸部因抽搐而扭曲，
in a twirled looking glass, to go or stay
留下或者离开，
in course at its own display
是你自己的选择
a pot, a pan, a cutlery board,
壶，锅子和餐具盘，
a pepper and black spice tray
盒子装满了胡椒和黑香料。

Time spooled, unspinning
时间的转轮已停止
life scrolls unravel
生命的卷轴已然清晰，
the telling tale wends bends and
一则生动的传说娓娓道来
breaks these tomes we travel
冲击了我们经历的旅程
over and again we abide
再一次，我们悉心聆听
but which side now of the
但究竟哪里是镜中花，
looking-glass facade am I
哪里又是水中月？

Memories haunt like diamonds
记忆像宝石般闪光，萦绕
reminiscence swirls as smoke
追忆往昔就如追逐
nettles in the morning
一缕盘旋而升的烟尘
at night steeped straw of oat
夜里，充满稻香的燕麦，
petals of jasmine, anemones
茉莉花苞和海葵花
in a water bowl afloat
正浮在木碗里打转
how grace arranged the chance array
是什么样的机缘巧合，
come eventide's shifting glow
竟让此刻的黄昏霞光满布；

Bend and stretch, swing and sway
弯曲，伸展，左右摇摆，
I am as a snake in your hands
我是你手心的舞蛇
wading loose as oars of two creaky boats
像两艘破船的木桨，轻轻地入水，
that play patterns with silt on the sand
沉入湖底砂石上的淤泥，
black coruscation, loam liquid beads
黑色的光芒，粘土玻璃球
the Orb Weavers spin the length of their wheels…
织布工正转着他们手中的织轮。