我朝空中射支箭，

I shot an arrow into the air,

落地后不知去向；

It fell to earth, I knew not where;

疾速飞离快如光，

For, so swiftly it flew, the sight

视力不能跟得上。

Could not follow it in its flight.

我朝空中唱首歌，

I breathed a song into the air,

落地后不知去向；

It fell to earth, I knew not where;

视力敏锐犀利人，

For who has sight so keen and strong,

跟得上歌声飞扬？

That it can follow the flight of song?

很久以后橡树上，

Long, long afterward, in an oak

我箭完好无损伤；

I found the arrow, still unbroke;

而歌从头到结尾，

And the song, from beginning to end,

在友人心头回荡。

I found again in the heart of a friend.