在公园散步，

Walking around in the park

比工作舒服，

Should feel better than work:

走过可躺下的草地，

The lake, the sunshine,

洒满阳光的湖。

The grass to lie on,

音乐模糊的游乐场，

Blurred playground noises

黑色长筒袜的护士长，

Beyond black-stockinged nurses ——

这不适合我，不是说，

Not a bad place to be.

是不好的地方。

Yet it doesn't suit me.

我快递哥在踌躇，

Being one of the men

我面包头的秘书，

You meet of an afternoon:

我“请拨打他手机”的前台，

Palsied old step-takers,

正如我当初。

Hare-eyed clerks with the jitters,

当四点晨曦亮起，

Waxed-fleshed out-patients

在另一年的年底？

Still vague from accidents,

给我你的手臂，

And characters in long coats

老蛤蟆，扶我走向墓地。

Deep in the litter-baskets ——

All dodging the toad work

By being stupid or weak.

Think of being them!

Hearing the hours chime,

Watching the bread delivered,

The sun by clouds covered,

The children going home;

Think of being them,

Turning over their failures

By some bed of lobelias,

Nowhere to go but indoors,

Nor friends but empty chairs ——

No, give me my in-tray,

My loaf-haired secretary,

My  shall-I-keep-the-call-in-Sir:

What else can I answer,

When the lights come on at four

At the end of another year?

Give me your arm, old toad;

Help me down Cemetery Road.