Lifetime Performance

by Don Schaeffer

Translated by /Anna Yin

 

Don't worry,

this thing is warranteed.

When I look at the assembly

of springs and gears

so tentative. Don't worry,

 

this will be renewed no matter

if it dissociates and even

when the problem can't be found,

someone strong will come, gently

ease me aside, earn my trust,

beat back mysteries, replace parts

and make it run again.

 

Thinking about repairs

draws the poetry right out of me.

sometimes my life

does just that,

leaving me safe but

eternally uncertain.

終身性能

道 思切夫爾[加拿大馬尼托巴]

加拿大/星子編譯

 

沒什麼好擔心的,

保險總會有效。

當我看著發條

和齒輪的裝配,猶豫不決。

也沒什麼好擔心的。

 

這些總在不斷更新,

即使它分裂甚至

找不出毛病

總會有強有力的人到來,

輕輕把我推到一旁,

獲得我的信任,

驅散神秘,更換零件,

使它又重新運轉。

 

想到修理

便把詩從我身上引了出來。

有些時候,

我的一生僅僅為此,

留下我安全,

但又永遠未知。