Old age is

老年

a flight of small

这是小小鸣鸟的

cheeping birds

飞翔

skimming

在冻结成冰的雪原上

bare trees

掠过

above a snow glaze.

光秃的树枝。

Gaining and failing

加快，跌闪

they are buffeted

是阴暗的风

by a dark wind—

挡住了它们的飞行——

But what?

但这有什么关系？

On harsh weedstalks

在坚硬的草茎上

the flock has rested—

这群鸟在休息，

the snow

雪地上

is covered with broken

撒满种子的

seed husks

碎壳儿

and the wind tempered

而丰满的笛声

with a shrill

那颤音

piping of plenty.

使风势变缓。