诗赏|惠特曼《草叶集》37

11

As I have walk'd in Alabama my morningwalk,

I have seen where the she-bird themocking-bird sat on her nest in

the briers hatching her brood.

I have seen the he-bird also,

I have paus'd to hear him near at handinflating his throat and

joyfully singing.

And while I paus'd it came to me that whathe really sang for was

not there only,

Nor for his mate nor himself only, nor allsent back by the echoes,

But subtle, clandestine, away beyond,

A charge transmitted and gift occult forthose being born.

当我清晨在亚拉巴马漫步的时候，

我看见雌反舌乌在荆棘丛中的小巢里孵雏。

我也看见了雄鸟，

我停下来听他在附近鼓着喉头快乐地歌唱。

我停在那里的时候，想到他真不只是为着那地方而歌唱，

也不单是为他的伴侣，为他自己，也不是为那传回来的回音，

乃是为了那微妙的，秘密的，在远处的，

新生的生命所承受的责任和对他的隐秘的赠礼。