威廉·华兹华斯 我们是七人/概述
诗歌的开头，说话者问一个充满活力的孩子怎么会懂得死亡。随后他遇到一个八岁的女孩，她拥有一头浓密的卷发。她粗俗却很美丽，让叙述者感到快乐。他问她有多少个兄弟姐妹，她回答说包括她在内有七个。
———A simple Child, That lightly draws its breath, And feels its life in every limb, What should it know of death? I met a little cottage Girl: She was eight years old, she said; Her hair was thick with many a curl That clustered round her head. She had a rustic, woodland air, And she was wildly clad: Her eyes were fair, and very fair; —Her beauty made me glad. “Sisters and brothers, little Maid, How many may you be?” “How many? Seven in all,” she said, And wondering looked at me.
说话者接着问孩子她的兄弟姐妹在哪里。她回答说“我们七个人”，并告诉他，有两个在康威镇，两个在海上，两个在教堂墓地。她和她的母亲住在墓地附近。
“And where are they? I pray you tell.” She answered, “Seven are we; And two of us at Conway dwell, And two are gone to sea. “Two of us in the church-yard lie, My sister and my brother; And, in the church-yard cottage, I Dwell near them with my mother.”
叙述者感到困惑，问她怎么可能是七个人。说话者的计算与女孩的计算不符。说话者说，如果两个人死了，那么只剩下五个人了。小女孩告诉他，她仍然会去看望她已经去世的兄弟姐妹，这震惊了诗人。
"You say that two at Conway dwell, And two are gone to sea, Yet ye are seven! I pray you tell, Sweet Maid, how this may be.” Then did the little Maid reply, “Seven boys and girls are we; Two of us in the church-yard lie, Beneath the church-yard tree.” “You run about, my little Maid, Your limbs they are alive; If two are in the church-yard laid, Then ye are only five.” “Their graves are green, they may be seen,” The little Maid replied, “Twelve steps or more from my mother’s door, And they are side by side. “My stockings there I often knit, My kerchief there I hem; And there upon the ground I sit, And sing a song to them. “And often after sun-set, Sir, When it is light and fair, I take my little porringer, And eat my supper there.
小女孩接着解释说，她的姐姐简首先因病去世。女孩相信死亡解脱了她的姐姐，让她免受痛苦和折磨。她和她的哥哥约翰曾在简的坟墓周围玩耍，直到约翰也去世了。她说，现在他躺在简的身边，这样他们就一直在一起了。
The first that dies was sister Jane; In bed she moaning lay, Till God released her of her pain; And then she went away. “So in the church-yard she was laid; And, when the grass was dry, Together round her grave we played, My brother John and I. “And when the ground was white with snow, And I could run and slide, My brother John was forced to go, And he lies by her side.”
那个人再次问道，她有多少个兄弟姐妹，因为有两个已经死了。她仍然固执地声称她有七个兄弟姐妹。那个人试图说服她说，“但是他们已经死了”，但他意识到自己的话是徒劳的。诗歌的结尾是小女孩说，“不，我们七个人！”
How many are you, then,” said I, “If they two are in heaven?” Quick was the little Maid’s reply, “O Master! we are seven.” “But they are dead; those two are dead! Their spirits are in heaven!” ’Twas throwing words away; for still The little Maid would have her will, And said, “Nay, we are seven!”