Song
By Louise Glück
Leo Cruz makes the most beautiful white bowls;I think I must get some to youbut how is the questionin these times
He is teaching methe names of the desert grasses;I have a booksince to see the grasses is impossible
Leo thinks the things man makesare more beautifulthan what exists in nature
and I say no.And Leo sayswait and see.
We make plansto walk the trails together.When, I ask him,when? Never again:that is what we do not say.
He is teaching meto live in imagination:
a cold windblows as I cross the desert;I can see his house in the distance;smoke is coming from the chimney
That is the kiln, I think;only Leo makes porcelain in the desert
Ah, he says, you are dreaming again
And I say then I’m glad I dreamthe fire is still alive
这是美国诗人Louise Glück获得诺奖后在2022年出版的诗集Winter Recipes from the Collective里最后一首诗。应该是写于疫情期间，作为诗集的最后一诗，实在是再恰当不过了。整部诗集隽永、深情，稍显忧郁，却内在沉静。满是细节，遍处哲思。诗人行至晚年，静心回望来处，各种生命中细小时刻都璀璨如珍珠，即使是被离弃的时刻。也因此诗集封面的八大山人笔下的小鸡雏恰似老年诗人凝眸回望中那个幼稚却可贵的自身。拥有这样一部诗集，实在幸甚。在网上查出本诗集的书评，点评非常精彩：https://chireviewofbooks.com/2021/10/28/winter-recipes-from-the-collective/