Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.
Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of Victory
As he defeated--dying--
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!
最最甜美的成功
要從未成功過的人所認為的才算。
能懂得品嚐上等醇酒
惟賴揪心的慾求。
紫旌的軍旅揚旗
今朝凱旋歸來
其中有誰能如此深刻體會
勝利的定義
像他一名敗卒─斷氣之先
無福消受的耳膜裡響著
遠方傳來陣陣凱歌的旋律
熱血滔滔響徹雲霄！
隔年一月中旬吧，為了對寄給她詩集的出版社編輯Thomas Niles表達謝忱，她寫了這樣的一封信：
"I bring you a chill Gift--My Cricket, and the Snow-- A base return indeed, for the delightful Book, which I infer from you, but an earnest one..."
隨信她附上了以下這兩首自己的代表作，一首寫蟋蟀，一首寫雪，蟋蟀作為詩巫(Druid)的象徵，是她自謙的化身，雪則凸顯她充分發揮創造隱喻的想像力，將女性居家生活的各樣活動幻化為美的巧藝：
895
Further in Summer than the Birds
Pathetic from the Grass
A minor Nation celebrates
Its unobtrusive Mass.
No Ordinance be seen
So gradual the Grace
A pensive Custom it becomes
Enlarging Loneliness.
Antiquest felt at Noon
When August burning low
Arise this spectral Canticle
Repose to typify
Remit as yet no Grace
No Furrow on the Glow
Yet a Druidic Difference
Enhances Nature now
Pathetic from the Grass
A minor Nation celebrates
Its unobtrusive Mass.
No Ordinance be seen
So gradual the Grace
A pensive Custom it becomes
Enlarging Loneliness.
Antiquest felt at Noon
When August burning low
Arise this spectral Canticle
Repose to typify
Remit as yet no Grace
No Furrow on the Glow
Yet a Druidic Difference
Enhances Nature now
遠揚猶勝夏季的鳥囀
愴然從草場傳出
一個不起眼的國度正在舉行
它那不強人所難的彌撒
入目不見規約
恩典點點滴滴賜予
悠哉的習俗於焉形成
壯大了孤獨
正午聽聞恍如來自遠古
當八月日照煦煦
這鬼影般似有還無的讚美詩揚起
為閒逸定音
慵然若無神采
田畦也缺水光
然而有詩巫作法
當下讓自然活色生香
291
It sifts from Leaden Sieves -- It powders all the Wood. It fills with Alabaster Wool The Wrinkles of the Road -- It makes an Even Face Of Mountain, and of Plain -- Unbroken Forehead from the East Unto the East again -- It reaches to the Fence -- It wraps it Rail by Rail Till it is lost in Fleeces -- It deals Celestial Vail To Stump, and Stack -- and Stem -- A Summer's empty Room -- Acres of Joints, where Harvests were, Recordless, but for them-- It Ruffles Wrists of Posts As Ankles of a Queen -- Then stills its Artisans -- like Ghosts -- Denying they have been --
它從鉛製的篩子灑下─
為整座林子撲上細粉。
它用白若雪花膏的羊毛填補─
路面的縐紋─
它抹平了臉
替高山，替平原─
沒有凹陷的額頭從東邊抹起
再回到東邊─
它降在圍籬上─
欄杆一排接一排裹護
直到整座圍籬消失在毛毯裡─
它從天際拋下面紗遮覆
田裡的殘梗、麥草堆─和枯枝─
夏天遠颺留下的空房─
一畝畝的阡陌，收穫依稀在目
而今杳然無蹤，唯見覆雪茫茫─
它在一根根柱子的腕部裝飾荷葉邊
彷彿裝飾皇后的腳踝─
最後歇下它的手藝─鬼魂般─
否認曾經一趟去來─
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