I've known rivers:

I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than theflow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.

I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.

I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.

I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers:

Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

黑人谈河

兰斯顿·休斯

我了解河流，

我了解河流和世界一样古老，比人类血管中的血流

还要古老。

我的灵魂与河流一样深沉。

当朝霞初升，我沐浴在幼发拉底河。

我在刚果河旁搭茅棚，波声催我入睡。

我俯视着尼罗河，建起了金字塔。

当阿伯·林肯南下新奥尔良，我听到密西西比河

在歌唱，我看到河流浑浊的胸脯被落日染得一江

金黄。

我了解河流，

古老的，幽暗的河流。

我的灵魂与河流一样深沉。