It was only a bird call at evening, unidentified, 

那只是入夜时分的鸟鸣，无法辨认的鸟,

As I came from the spring with water, across the rocky back-pasture; 

我从泉边汲水归来，穿过起伏不平的偏僻草场;

But I stood so still sky above was not stiller than sky in pail-water. 

我驻足凝神，水桶里的天空比头顶的天空更沉寂.

Years pass, all places and faces fade, some people have died, 

多年以后，所有的地方和面孔都变得淡漠，一些人已经死去.

And I stand in a far land, the evening still, and am at last sure 

而我身在他乡，夜色依旧，我终于确信

That I miss more that stillness at bird-call than some things that were to fail later.

比起终将衰败的事物，我更怀念那鸟鸣中的沉寂