我们总是过于渴望未来，这让我们

 Always too eager for the future,we

染上了心怀期待的恶习。

 Pick up bad habits of expectancy.

总有某种事物一点一点逼近；每一天

 Something is always approaching; every day

直到那时我们说，

Till then we say,

从悬崖上看去，一个细小、清晰、

Watching from a bluff the tiny,clear,

闪耀的，承载着应许的舰队开近了。

Sparkling armada of promises draw near.

它们来的太慢！它们浪费了太多的时间，

How slow they are! And how much time they waste,

不肯抓紧一下！

Refusing to make haste!

但他们还是驶过了手握着失望的

Yet still they leave us holding wretched stalks

可怜稻草的我们，因为，虽然毫无阻挡

Of disappointment,for,though nothing balks

它每一次的靠近，近到舷上的铜饰都能看见，

Each big approach leaning with brasswork prinked,

每根缆绳都清晰可辨，

Each rope distinct,

那旗帜招展，顶尖镶金的舰艏

Flagged, and the figurehead with golden tits

昂然驶过我们的航路，却从未抛锚靠岸；

Arching our way,it never anchors;it's

它来的快，去的更快。

No sooner present than it turns to past.

直到最后一艘，

Right to the last

我们以为，每一艘都会吊起货舱，并把

We think each one will heave to and unload

所有的负载都卸入我们的一生；我们都被亏欠，

All good into our lives,all we are owed

因为如此尽心而漫长的等待。

For waiting so devoutly and so long.

但是我们错了：

But we are wrong:

只有一艘船在寻找我们，一艘挂着黑帆的

Only one ship is seeking us,a black-

从未见过的船，她的身后拖着

Sailed unfamiliar,towing at her back

一道巨大而无鸟的寂静。她的尾迹里

A huge and birdless silence.In her wake

水无涌流，浪花不兴。

No waters breed or break.