(1)

I shot an arrow in the air，我向空中射了一箭，

It fell to earth， I knew not where;它已落到地面，我不知道其去向;

For so swiftly it flew， the sight 因它飛得如此地快速

Could not follow it in its flight.視力無法跟得上它的飛馳。

(2)

I breathed a song into the air，我向空中輕歌一曲，

It fell to earth， I knew not where;它已落地而停，我不知其去向;

For who has sight so keen and strong，誰有這么敏銳的視力，

That it can follow the flight of song? 能跟得上歌聲的飛馳?

(3)

Long， long afterward， in an oak 很久，很久以后，在一棵橡樹上，

I found the arrow still unbroke;我發現它依然完好無損;

And the song， from beginning to end，而這首歌，從頭到尾，

I found again in the heart of a friend.我發現又深印在一位友人的心上。

by H. W. Longfellow