Paul Laurence Dunbar - Forever 汉译

I had not known before

  Forever was so long a word.

The slow stroke of the clock of time

  I had not heard.

 

’Tis hard to learn so late;

  It seems no sad heart really learns,

But hopes and trusts and doubt and fears,

  And bleeds and burns.

 

The night is not all dark,

  Nor is the day all it seems,

But each may bring me this relief—

  My dreams and dreams.

 

I had not known before

  That never was so sad a word,

So wrap me in forgetfulness—

  I have not heard.

 

永远

保罗·劳伦斯·邓巴

 

我以前从来不知道

“永远”这个词是这个长短。

时光的钟锤缓缓的敲打

我不曾听见。

 

学得这么晚是困难；

看来忧愁的心真学不好，

只会希望、信赖、怀疑、恐惧、

悲咽和焦躁。

 

夜并不是完全漆黑，

昼不全是它看来的情形，

但昼夜都能给我这解脱：

我的梦呀梦。

 

我以前从来不知道

“永远不”这个词这样悲惨，

所以请把我裹进遗忘里——

     我不曾听见。