The Dolphins

By Carol Ann Duffy

World is what you swim in, or dance, it is simple.

We are in our element1. in one’s element: 处于适宜的环境，得其所。but we are not free.

Outside this world you cannot breathe for long.

The other has my shape. The other’s movement

forms my thoughts. And also mine. There is a man

and there are hoops2. hoop: 圆环。. There is a constant flowing guilt3.

We have found no truth in these waters,

no explanations tremble on our flesh.

We were blessed and now we are not blessed.

After travelling such space for days we began

to translate4. translate: 翻译，这里指适应一个新的环境。. It was the same space. It is

the same space always and above it is the man.

And now we are no longer blessed, for the world

will not deepen to dream in. The other knows

and out of love reflects me for myself.

We see our silver skin flash5. flash: 闪现。by like memory

of somewhere else. There is a coloured ball

we have to balance till the man has disappeared.

The moon has disappeared. We circle well-worn grooves

of water on a single note.6. well-worn: 用旧了的；groove: 沟，槽；note: 音符，乐曲。Music of loss forever

from the other’s heart which turns my own to stone.

There is a plastic toy. There is no hope. We sink

to the limits of this pool until the whistle blows.

There is a man and our mind knows we will die here.3. guilt: 罪恶感，愧疚。

世界就是你游泳或舞蹈的空间，这很简单

我们在水中却不得自由。

离开这儿活不了多久。

另一个和我身形相似。另一个的动作

让我思索。我的也一样。有一个人

还有圆环。不断流动的愧疚。

在这片水中我们找不到真相

我们肉体的颤抖也给不出理由。

我们曾经很幸运，可现在不是了。

在这样的空间转悠多日后我们开始

适应。以前是同样的空间。一直是

同样的空间，而上面有一个人。

现在我们不再幸运，因为世界

无法更深不能做梦。另一个懂了

出于爱为我展现我的样子。

我们看到彼此银色的皮肤像记忆闪过

那是别处。一只彩球

我们要顶着它直到那个人走掉。

月亮没了。我们在磨旧的水槽里

伴着一支曲子转圈。另一个心中

彻底迷失的音乐把我的心变成石头。

一个塑料玩具。没有希望。我们沉入

水池的底部直到哨声响起。

一个人，我们知道自己将死在这里。