A Minor Bird 

 

 

 

I have wished a bird would fly away,

And not sing by my house all day;

 

Have clapped my hands at him from the door

When it seemed as if I could bear no more.

 

The fault must partly have been in me.

The bird was not to blame for his key.

 

And of course there must be something wrong

In wanting to silence any song.

 

 

 

一只小鸟

 

 

 

我总希望那只小鸟快飞走，

别整天在我屋子外唱个不休；

 

有时它的歌声叫我难以容忍，

我便出门击掌止住它的歌声。

 

这场不愉快多半都应该怪我，

我没有权力制止住那只鸟唱歌。

 

如果有谁想叫任何歌声停息，

那他当然就会做出某种错事。

 

(曹明伦译)