他们有五十年没见面了，还是五十年没见面了?当他们的船到达时，他们就分开了，各自逃命。在克莱尔郡老家的旧洗礼登记簿上，用褪了色的墨水写着他们两个的名字，上面写的是同一天。他们一起在教区学校学习ABC，又一起去了神学院。他们一起戴着长长的白帽，用刚受了膏的手牵起了船的轭，坐船到异乡去工作;他们再也没有见过面，直到现在，每个人都拿着拐杖，两只瘦骨嶙峋的手被抓住，帕特神父遇见了米克神父。春天和夏天的日子过去了，冬天就要过去了，帕特神父对米克神父说，“祝你长寿。”帕特神父说:“这是五十年;时间过得真快。”米克神父说，“我想你会发现它更接近五十英里。 "And how's the world been treating you these many summers past? You don't look one day older, man, than when I saw you last." "That all depends," said Father Pat, "upon the point of view, But thanks for them kind words, Mickeen, and here's respects to yoU. And how is this and how is that? Now tell me have you heard From those who took the step with us. I haven't had a word At all at all, since we came out, from Mat or Tim or Con These fifty years." Said Father Mick, "'Twill soon be fifty-wan." But whether it was fifty-one or just the fifty neat The time went by as time will do when after years we meet: A kindly fairy flitted in to touch the past with gold, And two old fogies gazing back forgot that they were old. The Irish larks were in the skies, the Irish hills were green, There came the smell of new-mown hay along the old boreen: Old friends were met, old tales retold again and yet again-- "Ho, ho, begob," said Father Mick, "it was a grand world then." And when at last the parting came and twitching fingers met, It might have been the wintry breeze, but four old eyes were wet. Said Father Pat to Father Mick, "A mighty treat it's been; Now, can't we meet again, and soon? We're getting on, Mickeen-- The years are passing overhead, and passing dreadful quick; Don't wait another fifty." "Fifty-wan," said Father Mick. John O'Brien