我向空中射出一支箭,

I shot an arrow into the air,

不知它落到哪里;

It fell to earth, I knew not where;

它飞得好快啊,

For, so swiftly it flew, the sight

眼睛跟不上它的踪迹。

Could not follow it in its flight.

我向空中轻唱一首歌,

I breathed a song into the air,

不知它落在何方;

It fell to earth, I knew not where;

谁有这样尖、这样强的眼力，

For who has sight so keen and strong,

能追上歌声的飞翔？

That it can follow the flight of song?

很久以后，在橡树上

Long, long afterward, in an oak

我找到了那支箭，还不曾折断；

I found the arrow, still unbroke;

还有那支歌，也被我找到，

And the song, from beginning to end,

从头到尾在朋友心间。

I found again in the heart of a friend.