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美文引言: 你相信一見鐘情嗎？
兩個素昧平生的人偶然相識，擦出火花，然而這真的是第一次交會嗎？在此之前或許兩人曾經因緣際會“擦肩而過一百萬次了”──在人群中，撥錯的電話中，經過旋轉門的時候，在機場接受行李檢查的時候；一片飄落的葉子，一個消失于灌木叢中的球，或一個類似的夢境，都可能是聯系人與人之間的扣環。人生總有許多巧合，兩條平行線也可能會有交匯的一天。
Love at First Sight
《一見鐘情》
They're both convinced
他們彼此深信
that a sudden passion joined them.
是瞬間迸發的熱情讓他們相遇。
Such certainty is beautiful,
這樣的篤定是美麗的，
but uncertainty is more beautiful still
但變化無常更是美麗。
Since they'd never met before, they're sure
既然從未見過面，所以他們確定
that there'd been nothing between them.
彼此并無任何瓜葛。
But what's the word from the streets, staircases, hallways—
但是聽聽自街道、樓梯、走廊傳出的話語——
perhaps they've passed each other a million times?
他倆或許擦肩而過一百萬次了吧？
I want to ask them
我想問他們
if they don't remember—
是否記不得了——
a moment face to face
在旋轉門
in some revolving door.
面對面那一刻？
Perhaps a "sorry" muttered in a crowd?
或者在人群中喃喃說出的“對不起”？
A curt "wrong number" caught in the receiver?
或者在聽筒截獲的唐突的“打錯了”？
But I know the answer.
然而我早知他們的答案。
No, they don't remember
是的，他們記不得了。
They'd be amazed to hear
他們會感到詫異，倘若得知
that chance has been toying with them
緣分已玩弄他們
now for years.
多年。
Not quite ready yet
時機尚未成熟
to become their destiny,
還不能成為他們命運，
it pushed them close, drove them apart,
緣分將他們推近又驅離，
it barred their path,
憋住笑聲
stifling a laugh,
阻擋他們的去路，
and then leaped aside.
然后閃到一邊。
There were signs and signals,
有一些跡象和信號存在，
even if they couldn't read them yet.
即使他們尚無法解讀。
Perhaps three years ago
也許在三年前
or just last Tuesday
又或者就在上個星期二
a certain leaf fluttered
有某片葉子飄舞于
from one shoulder to another?
肩與肩之間？
Something was dropped and then picked up.
有東西掉了又撿了起來？
Who knows, maybe the ball that vanished
天曉得，也許是那個
into childhood's thicket?
消失于童年灌木叢中的球？
There were doorknobs and doorbells
還有已被觸摸
where one touch had covered another
千百遍的
beforehand.
門把和門鈴。
Suitcases checked and standing side by side.
檢查完畢後并排放置的手提箱。
One night, perhaps, the same dream,
有一晚，也許做了同樣的夢，
grown hazy by morning.
到了早晨又都變得模糊。
Every beginning
每個開始
is only a sequel, after all,
畢竟都只是續篇，
and the book of events
而充滿情節的書本
is always open halfway through.
總是從一半開始看起。
