Three Days to See

下面的文字摘选自海伦·凯勒的自传《假如给我三天光明》。海伦虽然自幼丧失了视力和听觉，但却是一个生活在黑暗中而给人类带来光明的女性。她在1904 年获得学位，成为优秀的讲师和作家。“我要把别人眼睛所看见的光明当作我的太阳，别人的耳朵听见的音乐当作我的乐曲，别人嘴角的微笑当作我的快乐。”她接受了命运的挑战，获得了超越自己的喜悦。我们为之感动的不仅是文字本身的优美和其中所含的真情，还包括字里行间所反映的那颗伟大心灵。
　
　
Most of us, however, take life for granted. We know that one day we must die, but usually we picture that day as far in the future. When we are in buoyant health, death is all but unimaginable. We seldom think of it. The days stretch out in an endless vista. So we go about our petty tasks, hardly aware of our listless attitude toward life.　
…　
I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound.

Now and then I have tested my seeing friends to discover what they see. Recently I was visited by a very good friend who had just returned from a long walk in the woods, and I asked her what she had observed. “Nothing in particular,” she replied. I might have been incredulous had I not been accustomed to such reposes, for long ago I became convinced that the seeing see little.　

How was it possible, I asked myself, to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? I who cannot see find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine. In the spring I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud the first sign of awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep. I feel the delightful, velvety texture of a flower, and discover its remarkable convolutions; and something of the miracle of Nature is revealed to me. Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song. I am delighted to have the cool waters of a brook rush through my open finger. To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug. To me the pageant of seasons is a thrilling and unending drama, the action of which streams through my finger tips.
　

　——Helen Keller 　

　

[注释]：
buoyant: having or marked by buoyancy 有浮力的，轻快的　
unimaginable: 想不到的，不可思议的　
vista: an awareness of a range of time, events, or subjects; a broad mental view 展望，回想　
listless: lacking energy or disinclined to exert effort; lethargic 倦怠的，冷漠的，情绪低落的　
incredulous: expressive of disbelief 怀疑的，不轻信的　
accustom: to familiarize, as by constant practice, use, or habit 使习惯于　
symmetry: exact correspondence of form and constituent configuration on opposite sides of a
dividing line or plane or about a center or an axis 对称，匀称　
silver birch: 白桦树　
shaggy: having a rough nap or surface, as a textile 表面粗糙的　
delightful: greatly pleasing 令人愉快的，可喜的　
velvety: suggestive of the texture of velvet; soft and smooth 像天鹅绒的，柔软的　
remarkable : attracting notice as being unusual or extraordinary 不平常的，非凡的，值得注意
的，显著的　
convolution: a form or part that is folded or coiled 回旋，盘旋，卷绕　
brook: 小溪　
lush: having or characterized by luxuriant vegetation 青葱的，豪华的　
luxurious : fond of or given to luxury 奢侈的，豪华的　
pageant: 壮观　
thrilling: 颤动的, 发抖的，令人振奋的