Theodore Spencer - A Narrative 汉译

Bill dug a well

And knelt down to it:

Frank bought a telescope

And stared up through it:

Both looking for truth

Since nobody knew it.

Bill sought dark,

No light reflected;

Frank sought light,

With dark neglected.

One looked up,

One looked down;

And a long-drawn fight

Began in our town.

Was Bill in the right

Looking down his well?

Was Frank our hope,

With his telescope?

We could not tell.

But when Frank said

“I find that dark

Is what makes light,”

Bill raised his head;

“I can’t find night

Without a spark,”

Was what Bill said.

“Let’s look at your well,”

Said Frank to Bill;

And Bill looked up

Through the telescope.

“What do you see?”

Said Bill to Frank.

“Stars and an echo of dark,” said Frank.

“What do you see?”

Said Frank to Bill.

“Dark and the echo of stars,” said Bill.

One looked up,

One looked down;

And the fight go on

All over our town.

Was Bill our hope

At the telescope?

Did Frank do right

To take Bill’s well?

No one can tell.

They’re at it still.