那只是傍晚时的一声鸟鸣，辨不清什么鸟，

It was only a bird call at evening, unidentified, 

当我从泉边提水回来，穿过屋后满是石头的牧场；

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

而我站得那么静，头顶天空也不比水桶中的更平静。

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

岁月走过，所有地点与朱颜都褪去，有些人已谢世了，

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

我站在远方的土地，傍晚依旧，并且终于确信：

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

我更怀念鸟鸣时的那份寂静，而非那些将日后衰去的事情。

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