DAY by day I float my paper boats one by one down the running stream.

我每天把纸船一个个放在急流的溪中。

In big black letters I write my name on them and the name of the village where I live.

我用大黑字写我的名字和我住的村名在纸船上。

I hope that someone in some strange land will find them and know who I am.

我希望住在异地的人会得到这纸船，知道我是谁。

I load my little boats with shiuli flowers from our garden, and hope that these blooms of the dawn will be carried safely to land in the night.

我把园中长的秀利花载在我的小船上，希望这些黎明开的花能在夜里被平平安安地带到岸上。

I launch my paper boats and look up into the sky and see the little clouds setting their white bulging¹ sails.

我投我的纸船到水里，仰望天空，看见小朵的云正张着满鼓着风的白帆。

I know not what playmate of mine in the sky sends them down the air to race with my boats!

我不知道天上有我的什么游伴把这些船放下来同我的船比赛！

When night comes I bury my face in my arms and dream that my paper boats float on and on under the midnight stars.

夜来了，我的脸埋在手臂里，梦见我的纸船在子夜的星光下缓缓地浮泛前去。

The fairies of sleep are sailing in them, and the lading is their baskets full of dreams.

睡仙坐在船里，带着满载着梦的篮子。