If I Had Three Lives
If I had three lives, I'd marry you in two.
The other? Perhaps that life over there
at Starbucks, sitting alone, writing-a memoir
maybe a novel or this poem. No kids probably
a small apartment with a view of the river.
and books-lots of books-and time to read
Friends to laugh with, and a man sometimes.
for a weekend, to remember what skin feels like
when it's alive. I'd be thinner in that life, vegan,
practice yoga. I'd go to art films, farmers markets.
drink martinis in swingy skirts and big jewelry.
I'd vacation on the Maine coast and wear a flannel shirt
weekend guy left behind, loving the smell of sweat
and aftershave more than I did him. I'd walk the beach
at sunrise, find perfect shell spirals and study pockmarks
water makes in sand. And I'd wonder sometimes
if I'd ever find you.
（by the Whitlams）
如果我有三条命
如果我有三条命，我愿意把两条命嫁给你。
另外那条呢? 也许那个我
在星巴克独自坐着，写回忆录
也许是写一本小说，或许就是写这首诗。
那个我可能没有孩子
有一套能看到河景的小公寓，
还有书——很多书——有读书的时间
那个我有一群一起欢笑的朋友，
有时是跟一个男人
共度周末，让我记住活力满满的
肌肤之亲。那个我会更瘦，吃素，练习瑜伽。
那个我会去看艺术电影，去农贸市场，
穿着飘扬的裙子，戴着大珠宝，喝着马提尼酒。
那个我会在缅因州海岸度假，穿着法兰绒衬衫
跟我共度周末的那个男人在我身后，
我喜欢他的汗味
以及他剃须后的润肤水的味道，
胜过我对他本人的喜欢。日出时，
我会在海滩漫步
寻找完美的贝壳螺旋，观察水在沙上形成的
凹痕。然后，我有时会想
我是否还能找到你。
（by the Whitlams，xmj 译）
