The Negro Speaks of Rivers

LANGSTON HUGHES

I’ve known rivers.

I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and old than the flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like 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 godden in the sunset.

I’ve known rivers:

Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like rivers.

黑人谈论河流

休斯 （美）

我了解河流：

我了解像世界一样古老的河流，

比人类血管中流动的血液更古老的河流。

我的灵魂变得像河流一般深邃。

晨曦中，我在幼发拉底河沐浴。

在刚果河畔，我盖了一间茅舍，河水潺潺催我入眠。

我俯瞰尼罗河，在河畔建造了金字塔。

当林肯去新奥尔良时，我听到密西西比河的歌声，

我瞧见它那浑浊的胸膛在夕阳下闪耀金光。

我了解河流：

古老的、黝黑的河流。

我的灵魂变得像河流一般深邃。