这期给大家带来耶鲁大学非裔教授Elizabeth Alexander(1962— )于今年1月20日在奥巴马就职典礼上朗诵的由她所作的这首Praise Song for the Day。Elizabeth Alexander同时还是个诗人、散文家、剧作家,曾获普利策奖。这首诗属于传统诗歌形式中的“occasional poem”——起源于古典拉丁诗人为庆贺、纪念或缅怀特殊事件、场合、典礼(如生日、婚礼、丧礼、建筑物落成、战争胜利等)而写下的诗作。
美国民众对这首诗的评价褒贬不一。有的人认为这首诗是真实生活的写照,写得很实在;有的人则认为其主题太过普通,“借着枯燥乏味的日常生活写照,试图呈现美国多元文化的大合唱,但其实只在诗中轻描淡写地带过非裔美国人在美国的历史地位。”
抛开这首诗作的任何政治目的不管,我认为这首诗还是写得挺不错的,“平淡中见真”。如果一个国家的领导者能做到让人们安居乐业,且有正面的精神追求,那么这个国家就是充满希望的。正是那脚踏实地默默实干的劳作者构成了一个国家最坚固的基石。
文字难度：★★☆
Praise song for struggle!
Praise song for the day!
Each day we go about our business,
walking past each other, catching each other’s
eyes or not, about to speak or speaking.
All about us is noise. All about us is
noise and 1)bramble, thorn and 2)din, each
one of our ancestors on our tongues.
Someone is stitching up a hem, 3)darning
a hole in a uniform, 4)patching a tire,
repairing the things in need of repair.
Someone is trying to make music somewhere,
with a pair of wooden spoons on an 5)oil drum,
with 6)cello, 7)boombox, 8)harmonica, voice.
A woman and her son wait for the bus.
A farmer considers the changing sky.
A teacher says, Take out your pencils. Begin.
We encounter each other in words, words
9)spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed,
words to consider, reconsider.
We cross dirt roads and highways that mark
the will of someone and then others, who said
I need to see what’s on the other side.
I know there’s something better down the road.
We need to find a place where we are safe.
We walk into that which we cannot yet see.
10)Say it plain: that many have died for this day.
Sing the names of the dead who brought us here,
who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges,
picked the cotton and the lettuce, built
brick by brick the glittering 11)edifices
they would then keep clean and work inside of.
Praise song for struggle, praise song for the day.
Praise song for every hand-lettered sign,
the figuring-it-out at kitchen tables.
Some live by love thy neighbor as thyself,
others by first do no harm or take no more
than you need. What if the mightiest word is love?
Love beyond marital, 12)filial, national,
love that casts a widening pool of light,
love with no need to 13)pre-empt grievance.
In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air,
any thing can be made, any sentence begun.
On the brink, on the brim, on the 14)cusp,
praise song for walking forward in that light.
每一天,我们忙于自己的事,
彼此擦肩而过,或瞥见对方
或无视对方,想说话或正在说话。
我们周遭全是噪音。我们周遭全是
噪音和荆棘,芒刺和喧嚣。我们
谈论着每一位祖先。
有人在缝褶边,补
制服上的一个洞,修补一个轮胎,
修补需要修补的东西。
有人试着用一对木勺敲击油桶,
用大提琴、音箱喇叭、口琴和人声,
在某处奏乐。
一个女人和她的儿子在等公车;
一位农夫在细看变幻的天空;
一位老师说,拿出你们的铅笔,开始。
我们彼此在言辞中相遇,带刺
或温和的言辞,喃喃低语或慷慨陈词,
需要推敲、再推敲的言辞。
我们穿过泥路和高速公路,它们
标志着某人和后来其他一些人的意愿,
他们说,我要看看那一头会有什么。
我知道路的前方有更好的东西。
我们需要找一个让自己安全的地方。
我们走进还未能看见的地方。
明白地说吧:许多人为了这一天而牺牲。
歌唱死者的名字吧,是他们把我们带到今天,
他们铺设铁轨,架起桥梁,
采摘棉花和莴苣,一砖一瓦地
建造闪光的大厦,
接着,他们打扫干净,在里面工作。
赞歌献给奋斗,献给这一天。
赞歌献给每一块手写的口号牌,
献给在厨房餐桌上思索出来的妙想。
有人活着,爱人如己,
有人以不作恶,或仅取所需为导向
假若“爱”是最强大的一个字,会怎样?
爱超越了婚姻、血缘、民族,
爱投射出的光圈不断扩大,
爱无需排斥怨尤。
在今天这耀眼的阳光中,在这冬日的空气里,
一切事情皆可造就,任何句子皆可作为开场白。
在悬崖边,在河岸边,在重要关头,
赞歌献给在光明中的前进。