A Ritual To Read To Each Other

A Ritual To Read To Each Other
(為每個人朗讀的儀式)

If you don't know the kind of person I am
如果你不知道我是個怎樣的人

and I don't know the kind of person you are
而我也不知道你是個怎樣的人

a pattern that others made may prevail in the world
他人所造的典型將盛行於世

and following the wrong god home we may miss our star.
我們會追隨錯誤的神走回家而錯過自己的那顆星

For there is many a small betrayal in the mind,
因為在我們心中充斥著許多小小的背叛

a shrug that lets the fragile sequence break
一個聳肩就能讓脆弱的結果破局

sending with shouts the horrible errors of childhood
吼叫著說出孩提時最難堪的錯誤

storming out to play through the broken dyke.
怒罵著穿過裂痕

And as elephants parade holding each elephant's tail,
就像列隊行進的大象勾著彼此的尾巴

but if one wanders the circus won't find the park,
但如果有一隻猶豫，這個馬戲團就無法到達目的地

I call it cruel and maybe the root of all cruelty
我稱它為殘忍，而且也許是所有殘酷的根源

to know what occurs but not recognize the fact.
知道發生什麼事，但卻認不清事實

And so I appeal to a voice, to something shadowy,
所以我求助一個聲音，於難以捉摸的事物

a remote important region in all who talk:
一個在所有說話的人身上遙遠而重要的領域

though we could fool each other, we should consider—
雖然我們可以愚弄彼此，但我們該思考的是----

lest the parade of our mutual life get lost in the dark.
避免我們生活的行進隊伍迷失在黑暗之中

For it is important that awake people be awake,
因為喚醒人們保持清醒是很重要的

or a breaking line may discourage them back to sleep;
或許斷裂的線會使他們沮喪的回去沈睡

the signals we give--yes or no, or maybe—
我們所給予的信號---是或不是，也許--

should be clear: the darkness around us is deep.
應該清清楚楚：環繞我們四周的是深深的黑暗

                                           -------------------  待續