曾经暮色中只一声鸟鸣，无法辨识，

It was only a bird call at evening, unidentified, 

从泉边取水而归，穿过多石的牧场的我

As I came from the spring with water, across the rocky back-pasture; 

寂然不动，头顶的天不比水桶里的天更寂静。

But I stood so still sky above was not stiller than sky in pail-water. 

而今，所有地点和面孔淡去，一些人已死，

Years pass, all places and faces fade, some people have died, 

暮色沉寂，立于远方的我，最终确定

And I stand in a far land, the evening still, and am at last sure 

一些东西终将逝去，而我更怀念那鸟鸣时的寂静。

That I miss more that stillness at bird-call than some things that were to fail later.