你何时不再歌唱

 醒来遇见有寓意的诗句，随手翻译。

题目：你何时不再歌唱？

今早上帝问我，“你何时不再唱歌？”

起初，我很生气。然后，我臣服于问题。

“为什么”

我自答，“我相信它是在我开始跟随每个传递予我的想法，来自我的父母，来自我的同伴们，然后来自任何路过的陌生人。

“我相信就在那时刻我开始选择，超越炼金术成就，与同情竞争。

“在那个早上我站起来，把自己的脚套进鞋里，束缚着自由；当我在聆听的，不再是音乐，而是人类。

“我相信，因为这样我不再唱歌，那一刻我听不见鸟鸣或笑不出笑声。”

上帝再问，“那你何时不再跳舞？或被故事迷住了？或停止在美妙的寂静疆土找寻安慰？”

“为什么”

我自答，“对吧，那是在我忘记了，我就是 袮 。”

WHEN DID YOU STOP SINGING?

This morning God asked me,

“When did you stop singing?”

At first, I was angered.

Then, I let the question be.

“Why,” said I,

“I believe it was when I began to follow

every thought that was given to me

by my parents,

and then by my peers,

and then by any passing stranger.

I believe it was the moment I began to choose

achievement over Alchemy

and competition over Compassion.

It was that morning I rose,

and put my feet into shoes

too tight for Freedom;

when I listened, instead of Music,

to mankind.”

“I believe,” said I, “that I stopped singing

the moment I stopped hearing Birdsong

or laughed with the sounds of Laughter.”

“And when did you stop dancing?” said God.

“Or being enchanted by stories?

Or stop finding comfort in the sweet territory

of silence?”

“Why,” answered I, “It was, you see, when I forgot that

I    am    You.”

* This poem inspired by a quote from Gabrielle Roth in her book "Maps to Ecstasy". She graciously gave me permission to include this poem in my collection.

From Neale Donald Walsch