After the Power Failure

After the Power Failure

The sun was fine , but it was down .
I turned on the light and went on working as before ,
Thinking to have driven out the night ,
And offering private thanks to civilization .
Suddenly , darkness triumphed ,
And the good old world went out .
But I took courage and lit my small candle .
The room thus lit , I continued working ,
Without losing heart , but longing twice as much for the sun.

Next day , I awoke to brilliant daylight ,
Found my candle still standing on the desk .
I examined it : the wax was spent ,
And tears ran down on either side .
I knew then how many gusts of wind it had
Survived that one night .
Gratefully I put it aside ,
Paying silent tribute to this miniature graveyard .

停电之后

太阳最好，但是它下沉了，
拧开电灯，工作照常进行。
我们还以为从此驱走夜，
暗暗感谢我们的文明。
可是突然，黑暗击败一切，
美好的世界从此消失灭踪。
但我点起小小的蜡烛，
把我的室内又照得通明：
继续工作也毫不气馁，
只是对太阳加倍地憧憬。

次日睁开眼，白日更辉煌，
小小的烛台还摆在桌上。
我细看它，不但耗尽了油，
而且残留的泪挂在两旁：
这是我才想起，原来一夜间，
有许多阵风都要它抵挡。
于是我感激地把它拿开，
默念这可敬的小小坟场。