我，自己的囚徒，这样说：

I, my own prisoner, say so:

生命不是那穿戴轻柔的绿天鹅绒的春天

life is not the springtime clad in light green velvet,

或一个人很少得到的爱抚

or a caress that one seldom receives,

生命不是一种离去的决心

life is not a resolve to go

或支撑脊背的苍白的双臂

or two white arms that hold one back.

生命是俘虏我们的狭小的圆圈

Life is the narrow ring that holds us captive,

这无形的圆圈我们从未跨越

the invisible circle we never cross,

生命是经过我们身边的幸福

life is nearby happiness that passes us by,

是我们无力去迈的数千步

and the thousand steps we cannot bring ourselves to take.

生命是蔑视自己

Life is to despise oneself

不动地躺在井底

and to lie motionless on the bottom of a well

知道上面阳光闪耀

and to know that the sun is shining up there

金色的鸟飞过空中

and golden birds are flying through the air

光阴似箭

and the days swift as arrows are shooting by.

生命是挥手暂别，回家，睡觉……

Life is to wave a short farewell and go home and sleep .

生命对于自己是个外人

Life is to be a foreigner to oneself

对于每个外人是一副新的面具

and a new mask for every other person who comes.

生命是一个人不在乎的幸福

Life is to be careless with one’s own happiness

推开那罕见的时刻

and to push away the unique moment,

生命是相信自己的软弱和缺乏勇气

life is to think oneself weak and not to dare.

Edith Sdergran