John Clare

First Love

John Clare

I never was struck before that hour,

With love so sudden and so sweet,

Her face it bloomed like a sweet flower,And stole my heart away complete.

My face turned pale as deadly pale,

My legs refused to walk away,

And when she looked“what could I ail?”

My life and all seemed turned to clay.

And then my blood rushed to my face,

And took my eyesight quiet away.

The trees and bushes round the place,

Seemed midnight at noonday,

I could not see a single thing,

Words from my eyes did start,

They spoke as chords do from the string,

And blood burnt round my heart,

Are flowers the winter’s choice?

Is love’s bed always snow?

She seemed to hear my silent voice,

And love appeals to know,

I never saw so sweet a face,

As that I stood before,

My heart has left its dwelling-place,

And can return no more.

(From when you are old,Tongxin press)

在那一刻之前，

我才被

突如其来的甜蜜爱情击中。

她青春焕发的脸庞像鲜花一朵，

彻底地偷走了我的心。

我的脸变得苍白，死一般的苍白，

我的双腿拒绝继续行走，

当她显示出“我为何苦恼”的神色，

我的生命及其一切似乎化为尘土。

那时，我的热血涌上脸部，

眼中的视力不翼而飞。

周围一片片树木和丛林，

在正午之时化作了子夜。

我一切都无法看清，

言语开始从眼中流露，

如同从琴弦奏出旋律，

血液燃烧在我的心房。

是否鲜花是冬天的选择？

是否爱巢始终就是白雪之絮？

她仿佛听到了我沉默的声音，

并且得知了爱情的呼吁。

我以前在此伫立之时，

从未见过这般甜美脸蛋。

我的心儿离开了栖息的地方，

而且永远也无法返回。

（摘自《当你老了》同心出版社）

初 恋

[英]约翰·克莱尔