Gulls
海鸥
William Carlos Williams
My townspeople, beyond in the great world
Are many with whom it were far more
Profitable for me to live than here with you.
城里的人呐，在那广阔的世界里，
有很多比和你们呆在一起更有意思的。
These whirr about me calling, calling!
这些在我头上呼呼飞过的鸟叫啊，叫啊！
And for my own part I answer them, loud as I can,
我呢，回应着它们，尽可能大声地，
But they, being free, pass!
但是它们，自由自在地，飞了！
I remain! Therefore, listen!
我就呆着！因此，倾听吧！
For you will not soon have another singer.
因为你们不会很快再有一位歌者了。
First I say this: You have seen
The strange birds, have you not, that sometimes
Rest upon our river in winter?
首先让我说： 你们看见了那些奇怪的鸟儿们吧，
对吧，那些有时在冬天里栖息在小河里的鸟？
Let them cause you to think well then of the storms
That drive many to shelter. These things
Do not happen without reason.
就让它们引导着你去想一想那些风暴，
将它们驱赶进栖身之所。凡事皆有因果。
And the next thing I say is this:
接下来我想说的是：
I saw an eagle once circling against the clouds
Over one of our principal churches —-
Easter, it was — a beautiful day!
我曾经看见一只鹰在云中盘旋
复活节，那天是，一个美丽的日子！
Three gulls came from above the river
And crossed slowly seaward!
三只海鸥从河边飞来
缓缓飞向海边！
Oh I know you have your own hymns, I have heard them —
哦，我知道你们有你们的圣歌，我听过的
And because I knew they invoked some great protector
因为我知道那圣歌会唤来某个伟大的保护者
I could not be angry with you,no matter
How much they outraged true music —
所以我不能对你们生气的，不论
你们的圣歌会怎样触怒真正的音乐
You see, it is not necessary for us to leap at each other,
你们看，我们没有必要互相指责
And, as I told you, In the end
The gulls moved seaward very quietly.
正如我告诉过你们的，最后，
海鸥们向着海边安静地飞去了。
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