我的结婚戒指躺在篮子中，

My wedding-ring lies in a basket

如同躺在井底。

as if at the bottom of a well.

没有什么能将它钓起，

Nothing will come to fish it back up

让它回到我的手指。

and onto my finger again.

它躺在

                                      It lies

被遗弃的老房钥匙，

among keys to abandoned houses,

将被钉进墙壁的

nails waiting to be needed and hammered

钉子，

into some wall,

没有名字的电话号码，

telephone numbers with no names attached,

以及无所事事的回形针之间。

idle paperclips.

它不能被丢弃，

                      It can’t be given away

因为担心带来厄运。

for fear of bringing ill-luck

它不能被卖掉，

                      It can’t be sold

因为婚姻存在时

for the marriage was good in its own

一起都是美好的，虽然那段时间已经消逝。 

time, though that time is gone.

能否让工艺师改造它？

                      Could some artificer

将它敲打成明亮的石头，做成

beat into it bright stones, transform it

一个耀眼的指环，不再用它来代表

into a dazzling circlet no one could take

无法实现的神圣婚约

for solemn betrothal or to make promises

或诺言；它只是

living will not let them keep? Change it

我送给朋友的一件小礼物。

into a simple gift I could give in friendship?