Readings In French - by Larry Levis

1.
仔细看杰拉德.德.奈瓦尔的眼睛
你注意到上升着的巨型海蟹。
那就是发生的事情
当你仔细看杰拉德.德.奈瓦尔的眼睛时，
总是同样的东西：巨型海蟹，
带着模糊的红枪套的爪子
四处爬，有点儿疑惑。
2.
但仔细看皮埃尔.勒维迪的眼睛
就像把社论版
扔到外面的雨中
然后在地下人行道里独自骑行
它也，像避开你的父亲。
你藏着，他却来找你
在每一根葡萄藤下；他靠得越来
越近了。除了不理睬他
你还能怎么样？
3.
无论哪种情况，很快就在一条地下人行道里独自骑行
那不重要
重要的是避免
也非常近地仔细看你父亲的眼睛
那合乎规矩的安然失色。
1.
Looking into the eyes of Gerard de Nerval
You notice the giant sea crabs rising.
Which is what happens
When you look into the eyes of Gerard de Nerval,
Always the same thing: the giant sea crabs,
The claws in their vague red holsters
Moving around, a little doubtfully.
2.
But looking into the eyes of Pierre Reverdy
Is like throwing the editorial page
Out into the rain
And then riding alone on the subway.
Also, it is like avoiding your father.
You are hiding and he looks for you
Under each vine; he is coming nearer
And nearer. What can you do
But ignore him?
3.
In either case, soon you are riding alone on a subway.
Which is not important.
What is important is to avoid
Looking too closely into the eyes of your father,
That formal eclipse.