On Being Asked for a War Poem威廉·巴特勒·叶芝

有人索战争诗袁可嘉 译


I think it better that in times like these
我想在这样的时代,诗作者
    A poet's mouth be silent, for in truth
最好闭上嘴,因为老实说,
        We have no gift to set a statsman right;
我们无力把政治家纠正;
He has had enough of meddling who can please
诗人已经够忙了,他得为
    A young girl in the indolence of her youth,
青春期慵懒的少女添欢乐,
        Or an old man upon a winter's night.
在冬夜还得把老年人奉承。


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