芦苇，

Reed,

被劈砍、撕扯断裂

slashed and torn

却愈发丰饶——

but doubly rich—

如你这般硕大不朽的头茎

such great heads as yours

萦绕在圣殿台阶之上，

drift upon temple-steps,

但你却在风中

but you are shattered

骨化形销

in the wind.

桃金娘的树皮上

Myrtle-bark

布满由你造成的斑点

is flecked from you,

树鳞也从你的枝条上

scales are dashed

分崩离析

from your stem,

娇媚的花瓣折损于砂砾

sand cuts your petal,

以坚硬的边刃犁出沟痕，

furrows it with hard edge,

一如星火滑落的燧石

like flint

蜿蜒的划痕

on a bright stone.

然而即便这场烈风

Yet though the whole wind

鞭笞着你的外皮

slash at your bark,

你仍旧高抬硕大不朽的身躯

you are lifted up,

没错——尽管这一切嘶号着

aye—though it hiss

要将你用泡沫彻底掩埋！

to cover you with froth.