有一只小海燕在动物园里长大，

　　叫他海燕，只因为他是海燕的后代。

　　他自己，且不必说冲击暴风雨，

　　压根儿就没有见过真正的大海。

　　这一天，小海燕为了寻找大海，

　　飞到海面上，直累得东摇西摆。

　　他正在絮絮叨叨抱怨命运，

　　忽然看见云雾里出现一座楼台。

　　小海燕一见打心眼里高兴：

　　“啊，这才是我理想的大海！

　　你看摩天的高楼和堂皇的大厦！

　　那里边一定就是天堂的所在。

　　“里边定然有镶着宝石的金笼，

　　又安静又暖和，不染一点尘埃；

　　里边定然有高等厨师制备的宴席，

　　吃什么有什么，只要把嘴张开。

　　“有时也可以扇起翅膀飞几圈，

　　但那是为了消遣，完全自由自在；

　　有时也可以对着暴风雨吟唱，

　　但喧嚣和危险完全隔在玻璃窗外。

　　“你看那门前如水如龙的车马，

　　有多少人为欢迎海燕而来！

　　我这么飞呀飞呀的真是个傻瓜，

　　幸福的生活已经在眼前展开。”

　　有只老海燕打断了他的话：

　　“那是蜃楼，哪里是什么楼台！

　　快抓住闪电，跨上乌云的骏马，

　　看，猛烈的暴风雨就要到来！”

　　小海燕轻蔑地打了个口哨：

　　“我懂得怎样为自己安排。

　　这大海上的风云瞬息万变，

　　我可不打算在大海里葬埋。”

　　霎时间，海上涌起滔天巨浪，

　　无数海燕冲天起舞，多么豪迈！

　　小海燕跌跌撞撞向蜃楼飞去，

　　一头栽进大浪，再也没有回来。

　　不要以为海燕的子孙一定是海燕，

　　只有海燕的翎毛并不能驾驭大海。

　　Commandment for the Petrel

　　Liu Zheng

　　In a zoo there grew up a little petrel

　　Through sheer genetic chains earned him that title.

　　Don’t mock at him for his fear of the tempest

　　He has never seen a real sea at all.

　　Today the searching little petrel flew over to the sea.

　　Weary and worn, he reeled right and left.

　　As he murmured about his bad fortune,

　　Out of the thick clouds emerged a mansion.

　　The very sight of it filled the petrel with joy:

　　“Oh yes, this is the sea to which I belong!

　　With all these skyscrapers grand and gorgeous!

　　Could there be any other paradise?

　　“There must be a good cage decked in jewels

　　Which is warm, serene and stainless;

　　There must be a first-rate cook making a feast.

　　Whoever opens his mouth shall have what he likes.

　　“Sometimes you may flap your wings and go some rounds,

　　For recreation, utterly at leisure and free;

　　Sometimes you may even sing in the tempestuous rain,

　　With sound and danger all blocked out of the windowpanes.

　　“Look at the vehicles flowing like water!

　　What a large crowd is here to cheer me!

　　How foolish I was to fly on and on

　　When happiness is right before my eyes.”

　　An old petrel cut him short:

　　“That’s a mirage! By no means a mansion!

　　Hold the lightening and ride on the cloud stallion,

　　Look! A fierce tempest is approaching!”

　　The little petrel whistled in contempt:

　　“I know how to plan for myself.

　　The sea is fickle by nature.

　　I’d rather not bury myself here.”

　　In a minute the sea became very rough.

　　Countless petrels soared into the air, dancing.

　　What a sight!

　　The little petrel stumbled towards the mirage,

　　Dipped into the waves and never showed up again.

　　Don’t take it for granted petrels are born petrels,

　　Mere petrel feathers will never make you a seafarer.

　　（中国文学出版社 编译）