spm 2008 poem analysis and spot

There's Been a Death in the Opposite House

There's been a death in the opposite house
对面家有人死（没情感的说明一起死亡事件）
As lately as today.
就在今天（才发现）
I know it by the numb look
我从麻木的脸色看出（家人伤心过度后的麻木脸）
Such houses have always.
这些丧事的家时常有此脸色（屋子被拟人化personified）

The neighbours rustle in and out,
邻居们进进出出 （来吊丧）
The doctor drives away.
医生开车走了(人已死了，还留下来干嘛)
A window opens like a pod,
突然间一扇窗打开
Abrupt, mechanically;
很突然得，很机械的 （上两行为了配这诗歌mood ）







Pod

Somebody flings a mattress out, -
有人把床丢了出来 （原因是怕病菌感染）
The children hurry by;
小孩子看了匆忙走过（当然怕，不过回答时刻说他们怕那有人死过的床）
They wonder if It died on that, -
他们猜想那人死在那床上
I used to when a boy.
想当年，我是个男孩子时也是如此
(作者是女的，此诗歌以男邻居的的角色带出）

Mattress

The minister goes stiffly in
牧师生硬拘谨的走入，
As if the house were his,
好像整间家是他的 ，（整个丧礼他最熟悉）
And he owned all the mourners now,
他控制了所有的送葬者， （大家都得听他的）
And little boys besides;
还有小男孩们

Minister =priest

And then the milliner, and the man
然后女帽制造及贩卖商，和
Of the appalling trade,
那个棺材佬
To take the measure of the house.
量那个棺材的长度/死人的尺寸
There'll be that dark parade
将会有一个葬礼







funeral hat

Of tassels and of coaches soon;
即将出现的缨和大马车
It's easy as a sign, -
死亡事件是是容易的信号
The intuition of the news
死亡事件是直觉上容易感受得的
In just a country town.
尤其在这个小乡村





tassels 缨






coaches 大马车




translated by
Allan Tan
28 OCT 2008