Unearthly languages

Poet: Pascale Petit

I was fluent in the music of the spheres
but it faded. So I salvaged one note

and kept it under my tongue
to fuel my first breath.

After my birth, I broke that note into colours
with which to see the world –

our home, where I was locked
in the cellar of myself.

The door has a leash hanging from it,
with little bells that shiver,

the way frost tinkles on a starry night.
Then the door clicks open and I go out

and stand naked
while snowflakes melt on my skin,

like the words of a lost language.

神奇的语言

帕斯卡 • 葩蒂 作
杨炼、张炜 译

我曾精通星际的音乐
而它消隐。我救出一枚音符

保藏在舌下
启动我第一次呼吸。

出生后，我将那音符捣碎成颜色
细细打量这世界——

我们的家，此地我被反锁
在自身的地窖里。

门上一条悬吊的链子，
缀满了颤颤的小铃，

星夜霜霰般叮当作响。
之后，门轻启，我一步踏出

裸身而立
雪花点点在皮肤上融化，

一如失传语言中的词。