I sometimes hold it half a sin

将自我感受的哀痛付诸文字，

    To put in words the grief I feel;

      我有时以为这仿佛是一种罪愆，

    For words, like Nature, half reveal

      因为言语，犹如自然，半是呈现

And half conceal the Soul within.

半是将那内在的灵魂藏匿。

But, for the unquiet heart and brain,

然而，对于永不安宁的头脑与心灵，

    A use in measured language lies;

      字斟句酌的语言自有价值；

    The sad mechanic exercise,

      那不足为道的技艺练习，

Like dull narcotics, numbing pain.

令痛苦麻木，似慢性毒品。

In words, like weeds, I'll wrap me o'er,

诗句，犹如黑纱，我用它裹住自己，

    Like coarsest clothes against the cold;

      犹如用粗陋麻衣抵御寒冷；

    But that large grief which these enfold

      但那在词语包裹下的巨大哀痛

Is given outline and no more.

仍显出它的轮廓，且就如此而已。