阿倫‧西格
(ALAN SEEGER)

我與死神有個約會
I Have a Rendezvous with Death

 
   
    阿倫‧西格(18881916)生於紐約。1910年他從哈佛大學畢業,1913年去巴黎。大戰爆發後西格加入法國的外國軍團,在索姆戰役中陣亡。《我與死神有個約會》是他戰地詩作中最有名的一首,最初發表於191610月的《北美評論》。


我與死神有個約會,

    地點在雙方爭奪的街壘。

    當樹葉沙沙,大地春回,

    空中充滿了蘋果花香──

    我與死神有個約會

    當春天帶回晴朗的藍天。

 

    也許他將牽著我手,

    把我引入黑暗王國,

    停止我的呼吸,合上我的眼──

    也許我將從他身邊逃脫。

    我與死神有個約會,

    在遭到炮擊、彈痕纍纍的山坡。

 

    當今年春天又來臨,

    鮮花初開在草地。

    絲綢作衾被,

    芬香沁心脾,

    戀人相擁入夢鄉,

    脈搏、呼吸彙成一個節奏

    夢醒更覺寧靜溫柔……

    但是我卻與死神有個約會,

    夜半相聚在燃燒的小城,

    當春天又輕快地移向北方;

    我發誓一定要遵守諾言,

    這約會絕不讓對方失望。

 

I have a rendezvous with Death
At some disputed barricade,
When Spring comes back with rustling shade
And apple blossoms fill the air-
I have a rendezvous with Death
When Spring brings back blue days and fair.

It may be he shall take my hand,
And lead me into his dark land,
And close my eyes and quench my breath-
it may be I shall pass him still.
I have a rendezvous with Death
On some scarred slope of battered hill,

When Spring comes round again this year
And the first meadow flowers appear.
God knows 'twere better to be deep
Pillowed in silk and scented down,
Where Love throbs out in blissful sleep,
Pulse nigh to pulse, and breath to breath,
Where hushed awakenings are dear. . .
But I've a rendezvous with Death
At midnight in some flaming town,
When Spring trips north again this year;
And I to my pledged word am true,
I shall not fail that rendezvous.