A Psalm of Life《生命的詩篇》

愛、生活、人生系列

A Psalm of Life《生命的詩篇》
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

《生命的詩篇》是美國作家亨利·沃茲沃斯·朗費羅寫的一首詩。朗費羅在他的第一任妻子去世後不久，寫下這首詩，思考如何充分享受自己的生活。這首詩於1838年出版，並於次年收錄在朗費羅的《詩集》中。朗費羅寫這首詩的靈感，來自於與他朋友的真誠交談，及他從第一任妻子瑪麗·斯托勒·波特的去世中，試圖說服自己擁有一顆能夠承受任何命運的心。這首詩旨在鼓勵讀者積極生活，不要哀嘆過去，或認為未來是理所當然的，生活不僅僅是一場夢而已，人生是一條射線，永遠向前，不要為過去悔恨連連，或是志得意滿、原地踏步，要立志讓每一個明天，都超越今天。聖經中記載使徒保羅，他曾說：「我不是以為自己已經得著了，我只有一件事，就是忘記背後，努力面前，向著標竿直跑。」我們的人生，就像是一場賽跑，切莫頻頻回頭，只管向前，大步奔跑，因為勝利是屬於那懂得爭取永恆的人的！
In the poem, “A Psalm of Life,” the young man, speaking from his “heart,” refuses to accept that life is “an empty dream,” or that the soul is dead. Instead, he says that life is indeed real and true, and that death is not the goal of life; the soul lives on and does not turn to dust. We are meant to act and go beyond mere sorrow or happiness. Even though we are brave, we still move towards death. Thus, we must seize the life we have, and be heroic, be more than dumb beasts. We ought to be wary of (警覺) the past and the future, but, instead, live and act within the present. When we look at the lives of great men, we can see that it is possible to live with meanings. When we depart, we leave our “footprints on the sands of time (時間在沙上留下的腳印).” It is possible that some other person who is toiling mournfully may see our footprints and take heart (振作起來). Knowing this, we should be hopeful, prepared for anything; we should endeavor to achieve and pursue, as well as “learn to labor and to wait.”
It is didactic, intending to provide advice and counsel (建議) to young men earnestly endeavoring to discern how to live this ephemeral life. Action and striving are keys in this poem, but Longfellow says that it is also important to embrace quietness of spirit and the value that comes in waiting and contemplation. Waiting can be a sort of labor that brings satisfaction and meanings. By the way, Longfellow also focuses on the present rather than the past or future. In doing so, the poem captures the spirit of carpe diem, or “seize the day.”
A Psalm of Life
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act--act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
生命的詩篇
不要在哀傷的詩句裡告訴我，
人生不過是一場幻夢！－
靈魂睡著了，就等於死了，
事物的真相與外表不同。
人生是真切的！人生是實在的！
它的歸宿絕不是荒墳；
你本是塵土，必歸於塵土，
這是指軀殼，不是指靈魂。
不是享樂，也不是受苦，
是我們命定的目標和道路；
而是行動，在每個明天
讓我們遠遠超越今天。
智藝無窮，時光飛逝，
而我們的心，縱然堅強和勇敢，
仍只如封鼓，敲打著
在喪禮的行列，走向墳地。
世界是一片遼闊的戰場，
在這紮寨安營的人生中，
不要像那啞巴般，聽人驅策的家畜！
要做一個威武善戰的英雄！
不要相信將來，不管它有多可愛！
把已逝的過去掩埋！
行動吧－在此活生生的現在！
胸中有赤心，頭上有真主！
偉人的生平都提醒我們
我們能夠活得高尚，
而當離開人世時，留在我們身後的
是時間印在沙上的腳印；
那腳印，也許是別人，
航行在人生的莊嚴大海，
是一個孤獨且遇難的兄弟，
看到這腳印，將再振作起來。
那麼，讓我們起來並行動，
對任何命運用心吧；
不斷地進取，不斷地追求，
學習勞動並等待。

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