評論
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Little birds sit on the telegraph wires, And chitter, and flitter, and fold their wings;
鳥兒端坐在電線上，啾啾而鳴，飛來飛去，又合上翅膀；
Maybe they think that, for them and their sires, Stretched always, on purpose, those wonderful strings:
或許它們在想，為它們和它們的王子，始終特地拉緊那些美麗的線：
And, perhaps, the Thought that the world inspires, Did plan for the birds, among other things.
也許，能啟發整個世界的這個念頭，就是這些鳥兒的打算。
Little birds sit on the slender lines, And the news of the world runs under their feet,
鳥兒端坐在纖細的繩上，這個世界的新鮮事就在它們腳下，
How value rises, and how declines, How kings with their armies in battle meet,
繩子的價值有多么大，又有多么小，領導它們的鳥王如何在戰場上相遇，
And, all the while, 'mid the soundless signs, They chirp their small gossipings, foolish sweet.
一直在無聲的信號中間，它們啾啾地低語，愚蠢的甜言蜜語。
Little things light on the lines of our lives,— Hopes, and joys, and acts of to-day,
小東西偶然發現了維系我們生活的線——希望，歡樂今朝，
And we think that for these the Lord contrives, Nor catch what the hidden lightnings say.
我們覺得這是上帝特意為它們設計的，不會被隱蔽的電擊中。
Yet, from end to end, His meaning arrives, And His word runs underneath, all the way.
然而從一端到另一端，上帝的意思都傳達到了，他的話能直達下界。
Is life only wires and lightning, then, Apart from that which about it clings?
那么，生活中僅僅有電線和電，才能依附嗎？
Are the thoughts, and the works, and the prayers of men
還有思想、勞動和人們的祈禱，
Only sparrows that light on God's telegraph strings, Holding a moment, and gone again?
只有偶然發現了上帝的電纜的麻雀，把握住了這一刻，會再去嗎？
Nay; He planned for the birds, with the larger things.
不會的，上帝為鳥兒們有更大的著想。
