Sympathy
I know what the caged bird feels, alas!
When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;
When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,
And the river flows like a stream of glass;
When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,
And the faint perfume from its chalice steals—
I know what the caged bird feels!
I know why the caged bird beats his wing
Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;
For he must fly back to his perch and cling
When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;
And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars
And they pulse again with a keener sting—
I know why he beats his wing!
I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,
When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,—
When he beats his bars and he would be free;
It is not a carol of joy or glee,
But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core,
But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings—
I know why the caged bird sings!
同情
我懂得笼中鸟的感受， 唉！
当太阳在高地的斜坡上闪亮；
当风轻轻摇动春天的草地，
河水像流淌的镜子；
当第一只鸟唱歌第一个花苞绽放，
清香从它的圣杯悄悄地流-
我懂得笼中鸟的感受
我懂得为何笼里的鸟扇动翅膀
知道它的血染红无情的围栏；
因他必须飞回到他的栖息处依傍
当他本该开心有树枝作秋千来荡；
可陈旧的伤疤仍有疼痛震颤
而这些伤疤再一次更锋利地刺伤
我懂得为何他扇动翅膀
我懂得为何笼中鸟要歌唱，只有我，
当他擦伤了翅膀和胸膛，-
当他击打笼子的围栏时才会自由；
这不是欢乐的颂歌，
而是他心底发出的祈祷，
而是他投向天堂的恳求-
我懂得为何笼中鸟要歌唱！
