This morning

今天早晨

two mockingbirds

两只嘲鸟

in the green field

在碧绿的田野里

were spinning and tossing

飞旋着，向天空

the white ribbons

抛掷着

of their songs

它们歌声的

into the air.

白丝带。

I had nothing

我没有什么事

better to do

比倾听

than listen.

更重要。

I mean this

我很认真的

seriously.

这样说。

In Greece,

在希腊

a long time ago,

很久以前

an old couple

有一对老夫妇

opened their door

给两个陌生人

to two strangers

开了门。

who were,

马上就清楚了，

it soon appeared,

这两个人，

not men at all,

其实不是凡人，

but gods.

而是神。

It is my favorite story--

这是我最喜欢的故事——

how the old couple

接着讲老夫妇

had almost nothing to give

几乎没什么能给他们

but their willingness

除了一番心意

to be attentive--

好心好意——

but for this alone

但仅仅为此

the gods loved them

神就爱他们

and blessed them--

保佑他们——

when they rose

当他们升起

out of their mortal bodies,

脱离肉体，

like a million particles of water

像喷泉中

from a fountain,

无数个水珠，

the light

光

swept into all the corners

照进农舍

of the cottage,

每个角落，

and the old couple,

而老夫妇

shaken with understanding,

明白了怎么回事，颤抖着，

bowed down--

躬身——

but still they asked for nothing

但他们仍然不祈求什么

but the difficult life

除了他们已有的

which they had already.

艰辛的生活。

And the gods smiled, as they vanished,

神就笑了，拍打着

clapping their great wings.

巨大的双翼，渐渐消失。

Wherever it was

无论是在哪儿，

I was supposed to be

我都假定自己是

this morning--

在那个早晨——

whatever it was I said

无论我说了什么

I would be doing--

我都希望是在做——

I was standing

我正站在

at the edge of the field--

田野的边上——

I was hurrying

我正匆忙

through my own soul,

穿过自己的灵魂，

opening its dark doors--

打开它黑暗的门——

I was leaning out;

我正倾身向外；

I was listening.

我正谛听。