泅渡 译
先生，请接受我
下个月的辞呈，
如果合适，就找人代替我。
我正留下太多未竟之事，
或因懒散或因实际困难。
我本应告诉一些人一些事，
可我不再知道说什么和向谁说：我已忘了。
我本该献上一些东西———
一个智慧的词，一件礼物，一个吻；
我一天天拖延。我很抱歉。
我将在剩下不多的时间里做这些。
我怕自己忽略了重要客户。
我曾打算探访
遥远的城市、岛屿和荒凉的土地；
你将不得不从我的计划中剔除它们
或托付给我的后继者。
我本该种树然而却没有；
给自己造所房屋，
或许不漂亮，但在计划中。
最主要的，我心中有
一本奇妙的书，亲爱的先生，
它会揭示许多秘密，
缓解痛苦和恐惧，
消除疑惑，赐予很多
泪与笑的礼物。
你会在我抽屉里找到书的提纲，
在底部，与未竟之事放在一起；
过去我没时间将它写出，真令人羞愧，
它将会是一件最主要的工作。
Unfinished Business
by Primo Levi
Sir, please accept my resignation
As of next month,
And, if it seems right, plan on replacing me.
I’m leaving much unfinished work,
Whether out of laziness or actual problems.
I was supposed to tell someone something,
But I no longer know what and to whom: I’ve forgotten.
I was also supposed to donate something—
A wise word, a gift, a kiss;
I put it off from one day to the next. I’m sorry.
I’ll do it in the short time that remains.
I’m afraid I’ve neglected important clients.
I was meant to visit
Distant cities, islands, desert lands;
You’ll have to cut them from the program
Or entrust them to my successor.
I was supposed to plant trees and I didn’t;
To build myself a house,
Maybe not beautiful, but based on plans.
Mainly, I had in mind
A marvelous book, kind sir,
Which would have revealed many secrets,
Alleviated pains and fears,
Eased doubts, given many
The gift of tears and laughter.
You’ll find its outline in my drawer,
Down below, with the unfinished business;
I didn’t have the time to write it out, which is a shame,
It would have been a fundamental work.
（Translated by Jonathan Galassi）
