"We don't read and write poetry
because it's cute.
我们读诗写诗，非为它的灵巧
We read and write poetry because
we are members of the human race...
我们读诗写诗
因为我们是人类的一员
and the human race
is filled with passion.
而人类充满了热情
And medicine, law, business,
engineering...
医药，法律，商业，工程
these are noble pursuits
and necessary to sustain life.
这些都是高贵的理想
并且是维生的必需条件
But poetry, beauty...
romance, love...
但是诗，美，浪漫，爱
these are what we stay alive for.
这些才是我们生存的原因
To quote from Whitman...
引用惠特曼的诗
“O me, O life of the questions
of these recurring...
“啊！我！”
“这个问题不断重演的生命”
of the endless trains
of the faithless...
“在戴运无信者的绵延车厢中”
of cities filled with the foolish.
“在充满愚人的城市之中”
What good amid these
“身处其中的意义为何？”
O me, O life?”
“啊！我！啊！生命！”"
(see quote in context)
