最美的情书：我们初次相遇，真的是六十二年前吗？

又是一篇悼亡妻的诗歌，详述了笔者和妻子从相识到相恋再到相守一生的故事，堪称世上最美的情书。据考证，文章出自多年前的《读者》某期，封面是一个大天平，一头站着一个女的，一头是一大堆食物。文章的原名为：The Flowing Years，中文译作：追忆似水年华，后也有人为其取名为：Hanover Square-汉诺威广场之恋。

Can it really be sixty-two years ago that Ifirst saw you?

我们初次相遇，真的是六十二年前吗？

It is truly a lifetime, I know. But as Igaze into your eyes now, it seems like only yesterday that I first saw you, inthat small café in Hanover Square.

年华似水，倏忽间我们已相携一世。然而此刻望着你的眼睛，当年的邂逅历历在目，清晰如昨，就在汉诺威广场的那间咖啡馆里。

From the moment I saw you smile, as youopened the door for that young mother and her newborn baby. I knew. I knew thatI wanted to share the rest of my life with you.

见到你的那一刻，你正为一位年轻的母亲和她的小宝宝开门，看到你的盈盈笑靥，我就明白我只愿与你执手偕老，共度今生。

I still think of how foolish I must havelooked, as I gazed at you, that first time. I remember watching you intently,as you took off your hat and loosely shook your short dark hair with yourfingers. I felt myself becoming immersed in your every detail, as you placedyour hat on the table and cupped your hands around the hot cup of tea, gentlyblowing the steam away with your pouted lips.

我现在仍不时想起，我第一次见到你时盯着你的样子，一定很傻吧。我就那样情不自禁地怔怔望着你，追随你摘下帽子，用手指松了松黑色短发，追随你把帽子放在桌上，双手捧起暖暖的茶杯，追随你微撅樱唇，轻轻地吹走飘腾的热气，我的目光始终追随着你，感觉自己在你的温柔举止间慢慢融化。

From that moment, everything seemed to makeperfect sense to me. The people in the café and the busy street outside alldisappeared into a hazy blur. All I could see was you.

从那一刻起，一切似乎都鲜明了意义。咖啡馆里的来来往往和外面闹市的熙熙攘攘忽然都模糊了起来，我眼里能看到的，只有你。

All through my life I have relived thatvery first day. Many, many times I have sat and thought about that the firstday, and how for a few fleeting moments I am there, feeling again what is liketo know true love for the very first time. It pleases me that I can still havethose feelings now after all those years, and I know I will always have them tocomfort me.

光阴似箭，那一天却不断在我的记忆里重演，鲜活如初。多少次我再次坐下，不断追忆那天的点滴，不断回味那些飞纵的瞬间，重新体会一见钟情的美丽。岁月的流逝却并没有带走我的爱恋感觉，这些体验会永远伴随我，安抚我的寥寥余生。

Not even as I shook and trembleduncontrollably in the trenches, did I forget your face. I would sit huddledinto the wet mud, terrified, as the hails of bullets and mortars crashed downaround me. I would clutch my rifle tightly to my heart, and think again of thatvery first day we met. I would cry out in fear, as the noise of war beat downaround me. But, as I thought of you and saw you smiling back at me, everythingaround me would be become silent, and I would be with you again for a fewprecious moments, far from the death and destruction. It would not be until Iopened my eyes once again, that I would see and hear the carnage of the wararound me.

即使是当我在战壕中控制不住地颤抖，我也不曾忘记你的容颜。我蜷缩在稀泥中，身边是枪林弹雨，弥漫硝烟，我把步枪紧紧地攥在胸前，一颗惊恐不安的心，还是想起了我们初识的那一天。身旁战火呼啸，恐惧让我想要大声呼叫，直到想起你，仿佛见到你在我身后盈盈浅笑，战场忽然沉寂下来，在这珍贵的瞬间，我觉得自己暂时远离了毁灭和死亡，飞向你的身旁。我拼命想留住这美好，直到睁开眼，周围却依然是血与火的生死战场。

I cannot tell you how strong my love foryou was back then, when I returned to you on leave in the September, feelingbattered, bruised and fragile. We held each other so tight I thought we wouldburst. I asked you to marry me the very same day and I whooped with joy whenyou looked deep into my eyes and said "yes" to being my bride.

九月休假回到你身边，我疲惫而脆弱，没能再告诉你战火纷飞时我对你的爱有多深。我们只能紧紧拥抱在一起，仿佛要把对方挤碎。也就在那天，面对我的求婚，你深深凝望我的眼睛，答应做我的新娘，而我早已欢喜地大喊大叫。

I’m looking at our wedding photo now, theone on our dressing table, next to your jewelry box. I think of how young andinnocent we were back then. I remember being on the church steps grinning likea Cheshire cat, when you said how dashing and handsome I looked in my uniform.The photo is old and faded now, but when I look at it, I only see the brightvibrant colors of our youth. I can still remember every detail of the prettywedding dress your mother made for you, with its fine delicate lace and prettypearls. If I concentrate hard enough, I can smell the sweetness of your weddingbouquet as you held it so proudly for everyone to see.

我现在正看着我们的结婚照片，总是放在妆台上的那张，就在你的首饰盒旁。那时候，我们多么年轻，多么纯真。我记得我们站在教堂的台阶上，开心得像一对甜蜜的鸳鸯，你还说我穿着制服多么英武俊朗。照片已经旧得泛黄了，但我看到的，却只有当年青春的明媚姿彩。我仍然记得你母亲为你做的那件新娘礼服，那些精致的花边和漂亮的珠饰。让我再想一想，我还能闻到那婚礼花束的甜香，你那么骄傲地捧着花，让每一个人分享你的幸福时光。

I remember being so over enjoyed, when ayear later, you gently held my hand to your waist and whispered in my ear thatwe were going to be a family.

一年后，你轻轻地把我的手放到你的腹前，对着我的耳朵悄悄透露这个让我欣喜若狂的好消息：我们就快有宝宝啦。

I know both our children love you dearly;they are outside the door now, waiting.

我知道我们的孩子都深深地爱你，他们现在就在门外等候。

Do you remember how I panicked like a madman when Jonathon was born? I can still picture you laughing and smiling at menow, as I clumsily held him for the very first time in my arms. I watched asyour laughter faded into tears, as I stared at him and cried my own tears ofjoy.

你还记得乔纳森出生的时候我那手足无措的慌张样子吗？当我笨拙地把他抱在怀里，我还记得你笑话我的样子，我看着他，我们都情不自禁地迸出了开心的泪花。　

Sarah and Tom arrived this morning withlittle Tessie. Can you remember how we both hugged each other tightly when wesaw our tiny granddaughter for the first time? I can"t believe she will beeight next month. I am trying not to cry, my love, as I tell you how beautifulshe looks today in her pretty dress and red shiny shoes, she reminds me so muchof you that first day we met. She has her hair cut short now, just like yourswas all those years ago. When I met her at the door her smile wrapped around melike a warm glove, just like yours used to do, my darling.

今天早晨撒拉和汤姆带着小缇西也赶到了。你还记得吗？第一次看到这个可爱的小孙女，我俩高兴地紧紧拥抱。真让人难以相信，她下个月就八岁了。亲爱的，我不得不忍住眼泪告诉你，小家伙今天穿着漂亮的裙子，闪亮的红色小鞋，让我立刻想起当年相遇时的你，连她的短发也像极了年轻的你。当我在门口看到她的时候，她的笑容暖人心脾，这竟然也和你一模一样。

I know you are tired, my dear, and I mustlet you go. But I love you so much it hurts to do so.

我明白，亲爱的，你累了，我应该让你离开。可是爱人即逝，孤侣何伤！

As we grew old together, I would tease youthat you had not changed since we first met. But it is true, my darling. I donot see the wrinkles and grey hair that other people see. When I look at younow, I only see your sweet tender lips and youthful sparkling eyes as we satand had our first picnic next to that small stream, and chased each otheraround that big old oak tree. I remember wishing those first few days togetherwould last forever. Do you remember how exciting and wonderful those days were?

这些年我们相濡以沫，白首到老，我总是逗你说你的容颜依然如昔。可这是真的，亲爱的，我真的见不到他人眼里的皱纹和白发。现在我望着你，也还是只能看到你娇嫩温柔的红唇和秋水流盼的眼眸，仿佛我们第一次在那条小溪边野餐，在那棵巨大的老橡树旁追逐嬉戏。那时候我们刚刚在一起，总是盼望那样的日子生生世世，你还记得吗？那些日子是多么激情荡漾，让人不忍回首……

I must go now, my darling. Our children arewaiting outside. They want to say goodbye to you.

亲爱的，我应该走了。孩子们都等在外面，他们要和你道别。

I wipe the tears away from my eyes and bendmy frail old legs down to the floor, so that I can kneel beside you. I leanclose to you and take hold of your hand and kiss your tender lips for the verylast time.

我擦去了眼角的泪，跪在你的身边，轻轻靠近你，握住你的双手，最后一次吻你。

Sleep peacefully my dear.

亲爱的，安心地睡吧。

I am sad that you had to leave me, butplease don’t worry. I am content, knowing I will be with you soon. I am too oldand too empty now to live much longer without you.

这分离扯碎了我的心。别担心，我很快就会来陪伴你。生死茫茫，尘世间没有你，这满腔的衷肠凭谁倾诉？这只影的寂寥复有何欢？

I know it won’t be long before we meetagain in that small café in Hanover Square.

很快，我们就能在汉诺威广场的那间小咖啡馆里再相逢。

Goodbye, my darling wife.

再会了，我的爱妻。