Reflection from Vivian T. Pomeroy
自 白 1)Confession
Forgive us that often we forgive ourselves so easily and others so hardly;
Forgive us that we expect perfection
from those to whom we show none;
Forgive us for 2)repelling people by the way
we set a good example;
Forgive us the 3)folly of trying to improve a friend;
Forbid that we should use our little idea of goodness as a spear to wound those who are different;
Forbid that we should feel superior to others
when we are only more 4)shielded;
And may we encourage the secret struggle
of every person.
1) confession [kEn5feFEn] n. 懺悔
2) repel [rI5pel] v. 使反感
3) folly [5fɒlI] n. 愚蠢
4) shielded [5Fi:ldId] a. 鎧裝的, 隔離的
原諒我們,原諒自己往往如此簡單,
原諒別人卻那么難;
原諒我們,期望他人盡善盡美,
自己卻乏善可陳;
原諒我們,使人反感,
自己卻先當了榜樣;
原諒我們,愚不可及,竟嘗試“調教”朋友;
不要讓我們把那自以為是的善意
變成利劍,傷害那些有別于己的人;
不要讓我們妄自尊大,
只落得個孤傲不群的下場;
每一位默默奮斗的人都值得我們鼓勵。
真理之星 The Star of Truth
The star of truth but dimly shines
behind the veiling clouds of night,
but ev’ry searching eye 5)divines
some partial glimmer of its light.
The certainty for which we 6)crave
no mortal ones can ever know;
7)uncharted waters we must 8)brave,
and face whatever winds may blow.
Though for safe harbor we may long,
we must not let our courage fail,
and, though the winds of doubt blow strong,
upon the trackless ocean sail.
From honest doubt we shall not flee,
nor 9)fetter the inquiring mind,
for where the hearts of all are free,
a truer faith we there shall find.
5)divine [dI5vaIn] v. 預測
6)crave [kreIv] v. 渴望
7)uncharted [5Qn5tFB:tId] a. 未知的, 不詳的
8)brave [breIv] v. 勇敢面對
9)fetter [5fetE] v. 束縛, 加腳鐐
真理之星熠然
夜幕面紗后,
但追尋之眸透出
一線真理之光。
我們所渴望的篤定
非凡人所能洞悉;
我們須無懼未知的海洋,
直面無常的風霜。
雖然我們渴望安全的港灣,
但絕不能讓我們的勇氣潰散,
即使懷疑的疾風彪悍,
我們仍在無軌的海洋中揚帆。
我們不該逃避真誠的疑懼,
也不應約束深究的精神,
因只有放飛眾人的心,
才能尋獲真切的信念。
翻譯:小敏