Kneeling
Moments of great calm,
Kneeling before an altar
Of wood in a stone church
In summer, waiting for the God
To speak; the air a staircase
For silence; the sun’s light
Ringing me, as though I acted
A great rôle. And the audiences
Still; all that close throng
Of spirits waiting, as I,
For the message.
Prompt me, God;
But not yet. When I speak,
Though it be you who speak
Through me, something is lost.
The meaning is in the waiting.
下跪
这时辰宏伟得安宁
跪在木头的祭台前，
在石头的教堂里
夏日间，等候上帝
开口；空气，托起寂静
的一架梯；太阳的光芒
环绕我，好似我正出演
要角身居。还有那听众
凝神；所有挤近的
灵魂都在等，就像我，
为了那消息。
提示我，上帝；
却没有。当我开口，
被你使用，开口的
实为是你，有些东西丢失了。
含义在那等候里。
作者：R.S.托马斯
译者：照朗