威廉·華茲華斯 我們是七人/概述
詩歌的開頭，說話者問一個充滿活力的孩子怎麼會懂得死亡。隨後他遇到一個八歲的女孩，她擁有一頭濃密的捲髮。她粗俗卻很美麗，讓敘述者感到快樂。他問她有多少個兄弟姐妹，她回答說包括她在內有七個。
———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.
說話者接著問孩子她的兄弟姐妹在哪裡。她回答說“我們七個人”，並告訴他，有兩個在康威鎮，兩個在海上，兩個在教堂墓地。她和她的母親住在墓地附近。
“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.”
敘述者感到困惑，問她怎麼可能是七個人。說話者的計算與女孩的計算不符。說話者說，如果兩個人死了，那麼只剩下五個人了。小女孩告訴他，她仍然會去看望她已經去世的兄弟姐妹，這震驚了詩人。
"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.
小女孩接著解釋說，她的姐姐簡首先因病去世。女孩相信死亡解脫了她的姐姐，讓她免受痛苦和折磨。她和她的哥哥約翰曾在簡的墳墓周圍玩耍，直到約翰也去世了。她說，現在他躺在簡的身邊，這樣他們就一直在一起了。
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.”
那個人再次問道，她有多少個兄弟姐妹，因為有兩個已經死了。她仍然固執地聲稱她有七個兄弟姐妹。那個人試圖說服她說，“但是他們已經死了”，但他意識到自己的話是徒勞的。詩歌的結尾是小女孩說，“不，我們七個人！”
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!”