第14章 爱若游丝 (1)
Love Is Just a Thread
Homesick乡愁
When I was a child， my homesickness was a small stamp
Linking Mum at the other end and me this.
When grown up， I remained homesick， but it became a ticket
By which I sailed to and from my bride at the other end.
Then homesickness took the shape of a grave，
Mum inside of it and me outside.
Now I’m still homesick， but it is a narrow strait
Separating me on this side and the mainland on the other.
小时候，乡愁是一枚小小的邮票，
我在这头，母亲在那头。
长大后，乡愁是一张窄窄的船票，
我在这头，新娘在那头。
后来啊！乡愁是一方矮矮的坟墓，
我在外头，母亲在里头。
而现在，乡愁是一湾浅浅的海峡，
我在这头，大陆在那头。
Angel天使
Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born.
One day the child asked God： "They tell me you are going to send me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless？"
God replied： "Among the many angels， I have chosen one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you."
"But，" said the child： "tell me here in Heaven I don’t anything else but sing and smile.That’s what I need to be happy！"
God said： "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel’s love and be happy."
"And，" said the child： "how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me， If I don’t know the language that men talk？"
"That’s easy，" said God： "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear， and with much patience and care， your angel will teach you how to speak."
The child looked up at God saying： "And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you？"
God smiled at the child saying： "Your angel will Place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."
The child said： "I’ve heard on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me？"
God put his arm around the child， saying： "Your angel will defend you-even if it means risking life！"
The child looked sad， saying： "But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."
God hugged the child： "Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way to come back to me， even though I will always be next to you."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven， but voices from earth could already be heard.
The child， in a hurry， asked softly： "Oh God， if I am about to leave now Please tell my Angel’s name！"
God replied： "Your angel’s name is of no importance...you will simply call her MOMMY！"
有一个婴儿即将出生。
一天，这个小孩问上帝：“他们告诉我明天你将要把我送到地球，不过为什么我在那儿会那么小和无助呢？”
上帝说：“在所有的天使之中，我已经选中了一个给你。她将会等待你和照顾你。”
“不过，”小孩问了，“请告诉我——在天堂我除了歌唱和微笑之外什么都不做。这些是我快乐所需要的！”
上帝说：“你的天使每天将会为你歌唱和微笑。你将会感受到你的天使的爱，你会感到快乐。”
“还有，”小孩又问了，“如果我不懂他们说的语言，当人们对我说话的时候我怎样才会理解呢？”
“这很简单，”上帝说，“你的天使将教会你语言中最美丽和最甜蜜的词语，带着最大的耐心和关怀，你的天使将教会你怎样说话。
小孩抬头看着上帝说：“我想和你说话的时候我该怎么做呢？”
上帝微笑着对小孩说：“你的天使会把你的双手放在一起然后教会你怎样祈祷。”
小孩说：“我听说地球上有坏人，谁将会保护我呢？”
上帝把手放在小孩身上，说：“你的天使将会保护你，甚至会冒生命的危险！”
小孩看起来有些悲伤，他说：“我将会一直感到悲伤，因为我再也看不到你了。”
上帝拥抱着小孩：“你的天使以后会一直跟你说有关我的事情，还会教你回到我身边的方法，虽说我一直与你同在。”
在这一刻，小孩在天堂感到了无比的安详，不过已经可以听到从地球传来的声音……
小孩有点急促，温柔地问：“上帝啊，如果我现在将要离开，请告诉我我的天使的名字！”
上帝回答说：“你的天使的名字并不那么重要，你可以简单的叫她——妈妈。”
Love Her More Than You Love Yourself爱她，甚于爱你自己
Those Childhood Days
When you came into the world， she held you in her arms.
You thanked her by weeping your eyes out.
When you were 1 year old， she fed you and bathed you.
You thanked her by crying all night long.
When you were 2 years old， she taught you to walk.
You thanked her by running away when she called.
When you were 3 years old， she made all your meals with love.
You thanked her by tossing your plate on the floor.
When you were 4 years old， she gave you some crayons.
You thanked her by coloring the dining room table.
When you were 5 years old， she dressed you for the holidays.
You thanked her by plopping into the nearest pile of mud.
When you were 6 years old， she walked you to school.
You thanked her by screaming， “I'm not going！”
When you were 7 years old， she bought you a baseball.
You thanked her by throwing it through the next-door-neighbor's window.
When you were 8 years old， she handed you an ice cream.
You thanked her by dripping it all over your lap.
When you were 9 years old， she paid for piano lessons.
You thanked her by never even bothering to practice.
When you were 10 years old， she drove you all day， from soccer to gymnastics to one birthday party after another.
You thanked her by jumping out of the car and never looking back.
When you were 11 years old， she took you and your friends to the movies.
You thanked her by asking to sit in a different row.
When you were 12 years old， she warned you not to watch certain TV shows.
You thanked her by waiting until she left the house.
Those Teenage Years
When you were 13， she suggested a haircut that was becoming.
You thanked her by telling her she had no taste.
When you were 14， she paid for a month away at summer camp.
You thanked her by forgetting to write a single letter.
When you were 15， she came home from work， looking for a hug.
You thanked her by having your bedroom door locked.
When you were 16， she taught you how to drive her car.
You thanked her by taking it every chance you could.
When you were 17， she was expecting an important call.
You thanked her by being on the phone all night.
When you were 18， she cried at your high school graduation.
You thanked her by staying out partying until dawn.
Growing Old and Gray
When you were 19， she paid your college tuition， drove you to campus， carried your bags.
You thanked her by saying good-bye outside the dorm so you wouldn't be embarrassed in front of your friends.
When you were 20， she asked whether you were seeing anyone.
You thanked her by saying， “It's none of your business.”
When you were 21， she suggested certain careers for your future.
You thanked her by saying， “I don't want to be like you.”
When you were 22， she hugged you at your college graduation.
You thanked her by asking whether she could pay for a trip to Europe.
When you were 23， she gave you furniture for your first apartment.
You thanked her by telling your friends it was ugly.