Acquainted with the night
黑夜的知己
I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain --and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.
I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.
我以為我早就熟悉這黑夜。
我冒雨出去，又冒雨回來。
我已越出街燈照亮的邊界。
我看到城中的小巷最悲慘。
我經過敲更的守夜人身邊，
我不愿多講，低垂下眼簾。
I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
When far away an interrupted cry
Came over houses from another street,
But not to call me back or say good-bye;
And further still at an unearthly height
One luminary clock against the sky
Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night.
我停住，腳步再也聽不見，
從另一條街升起越過屋頂
傳來一聲好似折斷的哭喊，
那不是叫我回去或說再見；
在更遠、遠離塵世的高處，
有一座鐘懸著，一閃一閃，
它宣稱時間不錯又不正確，
我以為我早就熟悉這黑夜。