In Due Form

In Due Form

In Due Form

by Laura Riding

I do not doubt you.

I know you love me.

It is a fact of your indoor face,

A true fancy of your muscularity.

Your step is confident.

Your look is thorough.

Your stay-beside-me is a pillow

To roll over on

And sleep as on my own upon.

But make me a statement

In due form on endless foolscap

Witnessed before a notary

And sent by post, registered,

To be signed for on receipt

And opened under oath to believe;

An antique paper missing from my strong-box,

A bond to clutch when hail tortures the chimney

And lightning circles redder round the city,

And your brisk step and thorough look

Are gallant but uncircumstantial,

And not mentionable in a doom-book.

In Due Form

译/小虾

正式声明

我不怀疑你

我知道你爱我

那是我们独处时写在你脸上的事实

是你的阳刚, 是我的迷恋

你的脚步是那样的自信

你的目光是那样的通透

你在身边的陪伴, 像个枕头

任我在上面翻滚

犹如我自己的柔枕, 让我安睡歇息

但是, 请给我一个声明

用正规的形式, 写在没有尽头的公文上

由公证人见证

交给信差, 注册登记

并在收据上签字为具

然后, 在誓言下打开方能相信

我的宝藏盒里, 缺少的一份古老的契约

一个纽带

当冰雹催残我屋顶的烟囱时

当闪电环绕着城市, 映红天际时

一个可以紧抓不放的纽带

你那迅捷的脚步和通透的目光

勇敢侠义但却虚无缥缈无处安放

官文典书中也从未被提起

In Due Form