My wedding-ring lies in a basket

我的结婚戒指躺在篮子中，

as if at the bottom of a well.

如同躺在井底。

Nothing will come to fish it back up

没有什么能将它钓起，

and onto my finger again.

让它回到我的手指。

                                      It lies

它躺在

among keys to abandoned houses,

被遗弃的老房钥匙，

nails waiting to be needed and hammered

将被钉进墙壁的

into some wall,

钉子，

telephone numbers with no names attached,

没有名字的电话号码，

idle paperclips.

以及无所事事的回形针之间。

                      It can’t be given away

它不能被丢弃，

for fear of bringing ill-luck

因为担心带来厄运。

                      It can’t be sold

它不能被卖掉，

for the marriage was good in its own

因为婚姻存在时

time, though that time is gone.

一起都是美好的，虽然那段时间已经消逝。 

                      Could some artificer

能否让工艺师改造它？

beat into it bright stones, transform it

将它敲打成明亮的石头，做成

into a dazzling circlet no one could take

一个耀眼的指环，不再用它来代表

for solemn betrothal or to make promises

无法实现的神圣婚约

living will not let them keep? Change it

或诺言；它只是

into a simple gift I could give in friendship?

我送给朋友的一件小礼物。