Atlas Moth

Poet: Pscale Petit

This giant atlas moth's broad wings
could be the map of China.

Here are two Great Walls. And there
on the Manchurian tip of each forewing,

are dragon heads to scare off predators.
But what are those windows in the map,

where crystal scales let in the light?
As if earth's skin has windows

and at certain times of the evening,
they open. The newly emerged atlas

perches on my hand, and it trembles –
like a new world, warming up for its first flight.

地图蛾

帕斯卡.葩蒂 作
杨炼、张炜 译

这只硕大的彩翅蛾
阔翼宛若中国地图。

这里两道长城蜿蜒。那儿
前翼挺出尖尖的满洲

有龙首震慑劫掠者。
但地图上这些鳞片晶亮

邀请着光的窗口是什么？
仿佛大地的皮肤

于薄暮某一瞬敞开。
这嫩嫩斑斓的地图

栖在我手上，它抖动——
热着身，像个新世界，临风欲飞。