查尔斯河上泛舟--亨利.科尔

我不喜欢把水弄出一个可怕的大漩涡的渡轮，
或让我目眩的模糊的白色太阳，
或快艇穿过时，吐出污浊的空气入河，
苦恼的鸭子的小家庭，恐慌地游着，但我爱
朗费罗桥的塔楼，类似于我厨房餐桌上银色的
椒盐罐。它们属于妈妈。自然环境保护部
现在正在整修这座砖石结构的桥。
在其大拱形下划桨，我感到疲惫，回忆浮起，
被炼钢工人扔下来的香烟蒂燃起。
也我想划桨去别处。苍蝇们正考察我赤裸的小腿，
我使劲拍打它们
我意识到它们很快乐。我是它们的乐子。有时
回忆涉及我爱的某个人。一条绳子擦着金属桩。
我想要我的现在人生成为双人舞标杆。上帝，看着我，
没戴帽子，赤裸着躯干，六十岁，独自划桨朔游而上。
I don't really like the ferries that make the water a scary vortex,
or the blurry white sun that blinds me, or the adorable small families
of distressed ducklings that swim in a panic when a speedboat cuts
through, spewing a miasma into the river, but I love the Longfellow
Bridge's towers that resemble the silver salt and pepper canisters
on my kitchen table. They belonged to Mother. The Department
of Conservation is restoring the bridge masonry now. Paddling under
its big arches, I feel weary, as memory floats up, ignited by cigarette
butts thrown down by steelworkers. I want to paddle away, too.
Flies are investigating my bare calves, and when I slap them hard
I realize they are so happy. I'm their amusement. Sometimes
memories involve someone I loved. A rope chafes a cleat.
I want my life to be post-pas de deux now. Lord, look at me,
hatless, with naked torso, at sixty, paddling alone upriver.