I knew a man once who wished he hadn’t been born.

我曾经认识一个男人

He meant what he said.

希望自己从未出生

He wasn’t a poseur.

他并不是一个装模作样的人，

In the few, radiant years I knew him

这些话完全出于真心。

He never spoke for effect.

我们曾经一起度过几年闪光的日子

我从没见过他只为装腔说话。

He said what he meant, I remember,

quietly, thoughtfully,

平静地，深沉地，他说出每一句话

over tea and scrambled eggs on toast

他从来说话算数，我记得，

on one of those perfect mornings

我们在一个个完美的早晨

that always follows

喝着茶，吃着夹碎鸡蛋的吐司

a night of rapture.

然后总是伴随着

一晚的狂欢。

He had the bright way of speaking

of those in the deepest despair.

他总能找到最明亮的语言

He made himself a joy to be with.

来谈论最深的绝望。

He saw the funny side of almost everything.

他总是能发现任何事物搞笑的一面。

他让自己成为快乐的源泉，

I knew he had meant what he said

when he departed decorously

他用他彬彬有礼的离去

with sleeping pills and vodka.

告诉我他是一个言而有信的人

No noose, no razor blades, no blood in the bath,

他借助于安眠药和伏特加，

And nothing so wickedly inconsiderate

没有绳圈，没有剃刀，没有滴血的浴缸，

as a sudden plunge under an oncoming train –

没有给人带来巨大的麻烦，

he valued understatement.

比如冲向一列疾驰的火车

他一直喜欢低调。

I shan’t reveal his name.

He wouldn’t have wanted me to.

我不应当透露他的名字。

He really did prefer oblivion.

他不会希望我这么做。

It was his chosen habitat.

他更喜欢完全的湮灭

那是他选择的栖息地。