年轻的时候

When I was younger

我很清楚的是

it was plain to me

我要让自己有所成就。

I must make something of myself.

如今上了年纪

Older now

我走在后街

I walk back streets

欣赏那些非常贫穷的

admiring the houses

人家的房子：

of the very poor:

屋顶与两边不协调，

roof out of line with sides

院子里乱七八糟

the yards cluttered

堆满旧铁丝网，灰烬，

with old chicken wire, ashes,

家具出了毛病；

furniture gone wrong;

栅栏和屋外厕所

the fences and outhouses

用桶板和部分

built of barrel-staves

箱子搭成，全都是，

and parts of boxes, all,

假如我有幸看到

if I am fortunate,

被涂了一种蓝绿色，

smeared a bluish green

经过适当的风化，

that properly weathered

是所有颜色里

pleases me best

我最喜欢的。

of all colors.

　　　　没一个人

                                 No one

会相信这点

will believe this

对国家意义重大。

of vast import to the nation.