Afterlife

Daniel Hoffman

It must be easier if one believes 

 The soul's immortal, and survives someplace, 

 Say in Heaven, where it keeps its face 

 And to such singularity each cleaves（劈开）, 

Or, as in childhood, when I used to think 

 That souls were points of light in the Milky Way, 

 Casting their sight on us, as though to say 

 Between two worlds there's but a casual link, 

And whenever someone died a brand new star 

 Would suddenly appear in the distant sky; 

 There'd be no dissolution, then, to die, 

 Existing ever, a grain of light, afar—

But you and I, free of such superstition（迷信）, 

 Lived and loved each other with each breath, 

 And now I know the love that transcends death, 

 Keeping you in memory's inner vision, 

But where is personhood when one is gone? 

 As body is reclaimed by earth, or flame, 

 Does Death's sharp saber-tooth exempt a name 

 So those who loved you feel you linger on（逗留）? 

You, when young, dreamed you'd become a tree, 

 Where words gathered among your blossoming 

 Branches, bickered, birdlike. You made them sing, 

 As now, in verse alive with bel esprit（才子）— 

Don't fade into your photos ... for you lift 

 My spirits, those of friends, and of all who feel 

 The joy, the wit, the passion your lines reveal, 

 So like your love, an imperishable gift.