布莱是位积极的反战者。1966年，他同别人一起建立了一个反对越南战争的组织，号召众多作家来反对这场战争。他的《身体周围的光》（The Light around the Body）一书获得了国家图书奖，他把奖金全部捐给了反战运动。而不久前的伊拉克战争，也令这位大诗人十分愤怒，他于2002年8月写下了《呼喊与回应》（Call and Answer）一诗，以示抗议。
一. 原 文 / 中 译 文 / 解 读
What Things Want
—— by Robert Bly ( US. / 1926. 12. 23 ~ )
MY little girl is nested 小小床不大，窝着小小她，
Within her tiny bed, 好可爱呀，我这小女儿，
With amber ringlets crested 琥珀色头发——
Around her dainty head; 小巧小脑瓜；
She lies so calm and still, 嗯——恬恬静静，匀匀称称， 5
She breathes so soft and low, 一吸一呼，起起伏伏，
She calls to mind a lily 小小她呀——百合花，百合花
Half-hidden in the snow. 雪中露朵百合花。
A weary little mortal 嗯——疲疲惫惫小姑娘
Has gone to slumber land;累了累了游梦乡； 10
The Pixies at the portal 嗯——牵她手，牵她手
Have caught her by the hand; 梦见门神牵她手；
She dreams her broken dolly 嗯——破了破了布娃娃
Will soon be mended there, 委委屈屈摇椅上；
That looks so melancholy 嗯——补好啦，补好啦 15
Upon the rocking-chair. 梦见好快补好啦 ；
I kiss your wayward tresses, 亲一下，倔强发，
My drowsy little queen;小王后啊——假寐娃；
I know you have caresses
From floating forms unseen. 20
O, Angels, let me keep her
To kiss away my cares,
This darling little sleeper,
Who has my love and prayers!
MY little girl is nested 小小床不大，窝着小小她，
Within her tiny bed, 好可爱呀，宝贝她，
With amber ringlets crested 琥珀色头发，
Around her dainty head; 小巧小脑瓜；
She lies so calm and still, 嗯——恬恬静静，匀匀称称，
She breathes so soft and low, 一吸一呼，起起伏伏，
She calls to mind a lily 小小她呀百合花，我的小女啊——
Half-hidden in the snow. 雪中绽放百合花。
A weary little mortal 嗯——疲疲惫惫小姑娘，
Has gone to slumber land;累了累了游梦乡；
The Pixies at the portal 嗯——牵住手，牵住手
Have caught her by the hand; 梦见门神牵住手；
She dreams her broken dolly 嗯——破了破了布娃娃
Will soon be mended there, 委委屈屈摇椅上；
That looks so melancholy 嗯——补好啦，补好啦
Upon the rocking-chair. 梦见好快补好啦 ；
I kiss your wayward tresses, 亲一下吧倔倔发，
My drowsy little queen;小王后啊假寐娃；
I know you have caresses 飞吻飞吻送给妳，
From floating forms unseen.知道妈咪多爱妳。
O, Angels, let me keep her 嗯——不亲不亲好好睡，
To kiss away my cares, 不理会，天使宝贝不理会；
This darling little sleeper, 嗯——睡吧睡吧小安琪，
Who has my love and prayers! 妈咪爱妳爱妳，千万祝福送给妳！
