R.S.托马斯：教堂内

得一忘二 译


时常，我力图
分析其诸种沉默
的质地。上帝是否藏身于此，
躲开我的搜寻？当那几位信徒
离去，空气再次回到自身，警觉，
我便停下，倾听。自从石头被弃于其中，
三三两两，空气就这样静待。
它们是一具身体的坚硬
肋骨，我们的祈祷并未能使之
生机盎然。阴影从各自的角落
逼近，占领被光线
占据了一个钟头的
地方。蝙蝠又继续
营营碌碌。而排椅的不安
消歇了。黑暗中，没有
一丝声息，惟余一人
在呼吸，考验他有何信心
面对空虚，将疑问一一钉在
无人住守的十字架上。


In Church
　　　　　　　
R. S. Thomas

Often I try
To analyse the quality
Of its silences. Is this where God hides
From my searching? I have stopped to listen,
After the few people have gone,
To the air recomposing itself
For vigil. It has waited like this
Since the stones grouped themselves about it.
These are the hard ribs
Of a body that our prayers have failed
To animate. Shadows advance
From their corners to take possession
Of places the light held
For an hour. The bats resume
Their business. The uneasiness of the pews
Ceases. There is no other sound
In the darkness but the sound of a man
Breathing, testing his faith
On emptiness, nailing his questions
One by one to an untenanted cross.