TEDxEast
Sarah Kay: How many lives can you live?
Filmed:
Readability: 3.5
1,362,376 views
Spoken-word poet Sarah Kay was stunned to find she couldn’t be a princess, ballerina and astronaut all in one lifetime. In this talk, she delivers two powerful poems that show us how we can live other lives.
(Filmed at TEDxEast.)
Sarah Kay - Poet
A performing poet since she was 14 years old, Sarah Kay is the founder of Project VOICE, an organization that uses spoken word poetry as a literacy and empowerment tool. Full bio
A performing poet since she was 14 years old, Sarah Kay is the founder of Project VOICE, an organization that uses spoken word poetry as a literacy and empowerment tool. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:15
(Singing) I see the moon.
The moon sees me.
The moon sees me.
0
609
4688
（清唱）我看見了月亮，
月亮也看見了我。
月亮也看見了我。
00:21
The moon sees somebody that I don't see.
1
6296
5268
月亮也看見了那些
我看不到的人。
我看不到的人。
00:27
God bless the moon, and God bless me.
2
12708
5643
上帝保佑那月亮，
上帝也保佑我。
上帝也保佑我。
00:34
And God bless the somebody
that I don't see.
that I don't see.
3
19243
5412
上帝也保佑那些
我看不到的人。
我看不到的人。
00:40
If I get to heaven, before you do,
4
25673
5658
如果我在你的前面，
去到了天堂，
去到了天堂，
00:46
I'll make a hole and pull you through.
5
31987
5783
我會挖一個洞，把你也拉進來。
00:52
And I'll write your name on every star,
6
38083
5469
我會在每一顆星星上
都寫下你的名字，
都寫下你的名字，
00:58
and that way the world
7
44062
2642
這樣的話，這個世界看起來
01:02
won't seem so far.
8
47356
3282
就離你不會太遠。
01:05
The astronaut will not be at work today.
9
51079
3691
太空人今天不上班。
01:10
He has called in sick.
10
55111
1656
他今天請了病假。
01:11
He has turned off his cell phone,
his laptop, his pager, his alarm clock.
his laptop, his pager, his alarm clock.
11
56791
5128
他關掉了他的手機，他的筆電，
他的呼叫器，他的鬧鐘。
他的呼叫器，他的鬧鐘。
01:16
There is a fat yellow cat
asleep on his couch,
asleep on his couch,
12
61943
3149
黃色的大肥貓躺在他的沙發上，
01:20
raindrops against the window
13
65116
1744
窗外下著大雨，
01:21
and not even the hint
of coffee in the kitchen air.
of coffee in the kitchen air.
14
66884
3715
廚房的空氣中，
也絲毫沒有咖啡的香味。
也絲毫沒有咖啡的香味。
01:25
Everybody is in a tizzy.
15
70623
1249
每個人都很緊張。
01:26
The engineers on the 15th floor have
stopped working on their particle machine.
stopped working on their particle machine.
16
71896
3946
15 樓的工程師
不再操作他的粒子加速器。
不再操作他的粒子加速器。
01:30
The anti-gravity room is leaking,
17
75866
1778
反重力房間也發生了洩漏，
01:32
and even the freckled kid with glasses,
18
77668
1880
甚至連那個專門負責倒垃圾的
01:34
whose only job is to take
out the trash, is nervous,
out the trash, is nervous,
19
79572
2674
戴眼鏡的雀斑小子都很緊張，
01:37
fumbles the bag, spills
a banana peel and a paper cup.
a banana peel and a paper cup.
20
82270
2709
不停地撥弄著垃圾袋，
連香蕉皮和紙杯都掉出來了。
連香蕉皮和紙杯都掉出來了。
01:39
Nobody notices.
21
85003
1422
沒有任何人注意到。
01:41
They are too busy recalculating
what this all mean for lost time.
what this all mean for lost time.
22
86449
3425
他們都忙著重新
計算時間流逝代表的意義。
計算時間流逝代表的意義。
01:44
How many galaxies
are we losing per second?
are we losing per second?
23
89898
2032
我們每秒鐘失去了多少星系？
距離下一個火箭發射還有多長時間？
01:46
How long before next rocket
can be launched?
can be launched?
24
91954
2050
01:48
Somewhere an electron
flies off its energy cloud.
flies off its energy cloud.
25
94028
2871
某個地方的電子飛離了它的能量雲。
01:51
A black hole has erupted.
26
96923
1966
一個黑洞坍塌了。
01:53
A mother finishes setting
the table for dinner.
the table for dinner.
27
98913
2301
一個媽媽佈置好了晚餐的餐桌。
01:56
A Law & Order marathon is starting.
28
101238
2061
一個名叫《法律與秩序》的
美劇開演了。
美劇開演了。
01:58
The astronaut is asleep.
29
103323
2221
太空人睡著了。
02:00
He has forgotten to turn off his watch,
30
105568
1903
他忘記關掉了他的手錶，
02:02
which ticks, like a metal
pulse against his wrist.
pulse against his wrist.
31
107495
2751
滴答滴答響著，
像是金屬脈衝撞擊在他手腕上。
像是金屬脈衝撞擊在他手腕上。
02:05
He does not hear it.
32
110270
1575
他沒有聽到。
02:06
He dreams of coral reefs and plankton.
33
111869
3049
他夢到了珊瑚礁和浮游生物。
02:09
His fingers find
the pillowcase's sailing masts.
the pillowcase's sailing masts.
34
114942
3139
他用手指抓住枕頭套，
像是抓著船桅一樣，
像是抓著船桅一樣，
02:13
He turns on his side,
opens his eyes at once.
opens his eyes at once.
35
118105
3068
他翻了個身，
有那麼一秒他睜開了眼睛。
有那麼一秒他睜開了眼睛。
02:16
He thinks that scuba divers must have
the most wonderful job in the world.
the most wonderful job in the world.
36
121197
4730
他覺得，潛水員
是這個世上最棒的工作了。
是這個世上最棒的工作了。
02:20
So much water to glide through!
37
125951
2843
可以在無限的大海裡徜徉！
02:25
(Applause)
38
131070
5228
（鼓掌）
02:31
Thank you.
39
136322
1781
謝謝。
02:33
When I was little, I could
not understand the concept
not understand the concept
40
138127
4101
在我很小的時候，
有一個概念我不能夠理解，
有一個概念我不能夠理解，
02:37
that you could only live one life.
41
142996
2045
就是，一個人只能過一種生活。
02:40
I don't mean this metaphorically.
42
145560
1580
我不是在比喻什麼，
02:42
I mean, I literally thought
that I was going to get to do
that I was going to get to do
43
147164
2951
我是說，我真的認為
我可以做所有我想做的事情。
02:45
everything there was to do
44
150433
2046
02:47
and be everything there was to be.
45
152503
2596
成為所有我想成為的人，
02:50
It was only a matter of time.
46
155123
1404
而這只是時間的問題而已！
02:51
And there was no limitation
based on age or gender
based on age or gender
47
156899
3024
並且沒有年齡、性別、種族的限制，
02:54
or race or even appropriate time period.
48
159947
3087
甚至也無需顧慮甚麼是
「合適的時段」。
「合適的時段」。
02:57
I was sure that I was going
to actually experience
to actually experience
49
163058
3451
我確信我可以真正的去體驗，
03:01
what it felt like to be a leader
of the civil rights movement
of the civil rights movement
50
166533
3794
那種做為人權運動領袖的感受，
03:05
or a ten-year old boy living
on a farm during the dust bowl
on a farm during the dust bowl
51
170351
3634
或像一個 10 歲的小男孩，
活在 30 年代
「黑色風暴事件」的農場那樣，
「黑色風暴事件」的農場那樣，
03:08
or an emperor of the Tang
dynasty in China.
dynasty in China.
52
174009
3618
或者像中國唐朝時代的皇帝那樣。
03:12
My mom says that when people asked me
53
177651
2001
我媽媽說，小時候人家問我：
03:14
what I wanted to be when I grew up,
my typical response was:
my typical response was:
54
179676
3579
「你長大後想當什麼人？」
我的標準答案總是：
公主—芭蕾舞者—太空人。
03:18
princess-ballerina-astronaut.
55
183279
1768
03:20
And what she doesn't understand
is that I wasn't trying to invent
is that I wasn't trying to invent
56
185458
3145
其實她不知道，
我並不是要把許多職業合併，
我並不是要把許多職業合併，
創造出一個新的超級職業。
03:23
some combined super profession.
57
188627
1983
03:25
I was listing things I thought
I was gonna get to be:
I was gonna get to be:
58
190634
3377
當時我只是列出
以後我想成為的人而已。
以後我想成為的人而已。
03:28
a princess and a ballerina
and an astronaut.
and an astronaut.
59
194035
3061
公主、芭蕾舞者、太空人，
03:32
and I'm pretty sure the list
probably went on from there.
probably went on from there.
60
197120
2739
而且我確信那些夢想
以後都會一一實現。
以後都會一一實現。
03:34
I usually just got cut off.
61
199883
1998
不過我通常都是被潑冷水。
03:36
It was never a question
of if I was gonna get to do something
of if I was gonna get to do something
62
201905
2866
至於我將來是否做得到？
對我來說，它從來都不是我的問題，
03:39
so much of a question of when.
63
204795
2060
它只是「甚麼時候去做」而已。
03:42
And I was sure that if I was going
to do everything,
to do everything,
64
207278
2477
而且我確信我會實現我所有的目標。
03:44
that it probably meant I had
to move pretty quickly,
to move pretty quickly,
65
209779
2436
這可能意味著我要行動迅速，
因為我要做的事情太多太多了。
03:47
because there was a lot
of stuff I needed to do.
of stuff I needed to do.
66
212239
2246
所以我的生活一直都是奔波忙碌的。
03:49
So my life was constantly
in a state of rushing.
in a state of rushing.
67
214509
2270
我總是擔心進度落後。
03:51
I was always scared
that I was falling behind.
that I was falling behind.
68
216803
2167
加上我是在紐約市區長大的，
03:53
And since I grew up
in New York City, as far as I could tell,
in New York City, as far as I could tell,
69
218994
3380
步調緊湊本來就是這裡的生活常態。
03:57
rushing was pretty normal.
70
222398
1826
04:00
But, as I grew up, I had
this sinking realization,
this sinking realization,
71
225128
3635
但我長大了之後，我失望的意識到，
04:04
that I wasn't gonna get to live
any more than one life.
any more than one life.
72
229108
4290
我不可能有多重的人生。
04:08
I only knew what it felt like
to be a teenage girl
to be a teenage girl
73
233422
3006
身為一個在紐約長大的女孩，
我就只能感受到那種感覺而已，
04:11
in New York City,
74
236452
1151
04:12
not a teenage boy in New Zealand,
75
237627
2291
我卻無法體會到，
做為一個紐西蘭青少年的那種感覺，
做為一個紐西蘭青少年的那種感覺，
04:14
not a prom queen in Kansas.
76
239942
3077
或是做為堪薩斯
畢業舞會皇后的那種感覺，
畢業舞會皇后的那種感覺，
04:17
I only got to see through my lens.
77
243043
1921
我只能用我的視角去看這個世界，
04:19
And it was around this time
that I became obsessed with stories,
that I became obsessed with stories,
78
244988
3308
而也恰好是在那段時間裡，
我開始迷上了故事。
我開始迷上了故事。
04:23
because it was through stories
that I was able to see
that I was able to see
79
248320
3127
因為透過故事，
我才可以站在別人的視角，
去認識這個世界。
去認識這個世界。
04:26
through someone else's lens,
however briefly or imperfectly.
however briefly or imperfectly.
80
251471
3722
不管它是如何短暫，或是不完美！
04:30
And I started craving hearing
other people's experiences
other people's experiences
81
255589
3112
我開始渴望聽到別人的經歷，
04:33
because I was so jealous
that there were entire lives
that there were entire lives
82
258725
3563
因為我嫉妒他們的生活，
而那些都是我從來沒過的經歷。
04:37
that I was never gonna get to live,
83
262312
1691
04:38
and I wanted to hear
about everything that I was missing.
about everything that I was missing.
84
264027
2675
我想要聽我所錯過的一切的故事。
而且根據遞移關係，
04:41
And by transitive property,
85
266726
1294
我發現有些人，
04:42
I realized that some people
were never gonna get to experience
were never gonna get to experience
86
268044
3229
是永遠無法體驗紐約長大的女孩﹑
她們的經歷是怎樣的。
她們的經歷是怎樣的。
04:46
what it felt like to be a teenage girl
in New York city.
in New York city.
87
271297
2684
04:48
Which meant that they weren't gonna know
88
274005
1905
這意味著，他們不會知道，
04:50
what the subway ride
after your first kiss feels like,
after your first kiss feels like,
89
275934
3222
初吻後坐地鐵是什麼樣的感受。
04:54
or how quiet it gets when its snows.
90
279180
2818
也不會知道下雪的時候
外面有多安靜，
外面有多安靜，
04:56
And I wanted them to know,
I wanted to tell them.
I wanted to tell them.
91
282022
2612
我想要他們知道，我想告訴他們，
04:59
And this became the focus of my obsession.
92
284658
2427
就是因為有這些事，
所以成為我執著的焦點，
所以成為我執著的焦點，
05:02
I busied myself telling stories
and sharing stories and collecting them.
and sharing stories and collecting them.
93
287109
3625
我馬不停蹄的寫我的故事、
分享我的故事、
分享我的故事、
以及收集我自己的故事。
05:05
And it's not until recently
94
290758
1984
至今最近我才意識到，
05:07
that I realized that
I can't always rush poetry.
I can't always rush poetry.
95
292766
4309
我不能總是那樣匆匆忙忙的寫詩。
05:12
In April for National Poetry Month,
there's this challenge
there's this challenge
96
297666
3338
4 月份舉辦的
國家詩歌月有一個挑戰，
國家詩歌月有一個挑戰，
05:15
that many poets in the poetry
community participate in,
community participate in,
97
301028
3118
詩歌協會的很多詩人
都參與了這個挑戰。
都參與了這個挑戰。
05:19
and its called the 30/30 Challenge.
98
304170
2064
這個挑戰的名稱為 30/30 挑戰賽。
05:21
The idea is you write a new poem
99
306551
2722
它的規則是，在 4 月份的每一天，
05:24
every single day
for the entire month of April.
for the entire month of April.
100
309297
2937
你都要創作出一首新詩。
05:27
And last year, I tried it
for the first time
for the first time
101
312916
2056
去年我開始了我的第一次嘗試，
05:29
and was thrilled by the efficiency
at which I was able to produce poetry.
at which I was able to produce poetry.
102
314996
4150
我被我自己創作詩歌的效力嚇著了。
05:34
But at the end of the month, I looked
back at these 30 poems I had written
back at these 30 poems I had written
103
319765
3610
但是在那個月的最後一天，
我回過頭看我寫的 30 首詩。
我回過頭看我寫的 30 首詩。
05:38
and discovered that they were
all trying to tell the same story,
all trying to tell the same story,
104
323399
4019
發現它們都在嘗試寫同樣的故事，
05:42
it had just taken me 30 tries to figure
out the way that it wanted to be told.
out the way that it wanted to be told.
105
327442
4809
我經歷了 30 次的嘗試後，
才想出我想敘述的方法，
才想出我想敘述的方法，
05:47
And I realized that this is probably true
of other stories on an even larger scale.
of other stories on an even larger scale.
106
332275
3921
我也理解到，
對於其他規模更大的故事，
對於其他規模更大的故事，
情況似乎也是差不多。
05:51
I have stories that I have
tried to tell for years,
tried to tell for years,
107
336220
2428
我有一些故事，
多年來一直嘗試想講給別人聽，
多年來一直嘗試想講給別人聽，
05:53
rewriting and rewriting and constantly
searching for the right words.
searching for the right words.
108
338672
4388
我一而再不停的重寫，
不斷的尋找適合的文字。
不斷的尋找適合的文字。
05:57
There's a French poet and essayist
by the name of Paul Valéry
by the name of Paul Valéry
109
343084
3285
法國有位詩人兼散文家，
保羅·瓦雷里曾經說過：
保羅·瓦雷里曾經說過：
06:01
who said a poem is never
finished, it is only abandoned.
finished, it is only abandoned.
110
346393
3476
「詩是無法完成的，它只能被放棄。」
06:05
And this terrifies me
111
350178
1151
這句話讓我嚇到了，
因為它給了我一個暗示，
因為它給了我一個暗示，
06:06
because it implies that I could keep
re-editing and rewriting forever
re-editing and rewriting forever
112
351353
3379
那就是我可以永遠不停的重新編輯、
不斷的重新修改，
不斷的重新修改，
06:09
and its up to me to decide
when a poem is finished
when a poem is finished
113
354756
3453
而這給了我權利
來決定何時寫完這首詩，
來決定何時寫完這首詩，
06:13
and when I can walk away from it.
114
358233
2111
並決定何時抽身離開。
06:15
And this goes directly against
my very obsessive nature
my very obsessive nature
115
360978
2707
而這也直接
違反了我非常執著的本性，
違反了我非常執著的本性，
06:18
to try to find the right answer
and the perfect words and the right form.
and the perfect words and the right form.
116
363709
3619
總是在嘗試尋找正確的答案，
完美的詞語和正確的形式。
完美的詞語和正確的形式。
06:22
And I use poetry in my life,
117
367352
2081
我在生活中常常使用詩句，
來做為幫助我
尋求和解決問題的方法。
尋求和解決問題的方法。
06:24
as a way to help me navigate
and work through things.
and work through things.
118
369457
2712
06:27
But just because I end the poem,
doesn't mean that I've solved
doesn't mean that I've solved
119
372193
3206
但當我寫完我的詩篇時，
並不代表這我當時的疑惑
也獲得了解決。
也獲得了解決。
06:30
what it was I was puzzling through.
120
375423
1984
06:32
I like to revisit old poetry
121
378001
1834
我喜歡回顧我的舊詩，
06:34
because it shows me exactly
where I was at that moment
where I was at that moment
122
379859
3815
因為它們可以準確告訴我，
那個時候我是什麼樣的狀態，
那個時候我是什麼樣的狀態，
06:38
and what it was I was trying to navigate
123
383698
1913
我在嘗試去探尋什麼，
06:40
and the words that I chose to help me.
124
385635
2134
以及，我當時選來
幫助我的詞又是什麼。
幫助我的詞又是什麼。
我有一個故事，
06:43
Now, I have a story
125
388468
1353
06:44
that I've been stumbling
over for years and years
over for years and years
126
389845
2849
我躊躇了很多年。
06:47
and I'm not sure if I've found
the prefect form,
the prefect form,
127
392718
2650
我不確定我是否找到了完美的形式，
或者只是一種
讓我可以繼續完成的嘗試，
讓我可以繼續完成的嘗試，
06:50
or whether this is just one attempt
128
395392
1992
06:52
and I will try to rewrite it later
in search of a better way to tell it.
in search of a better way to tell it.
129
397408
3745
用來尋找重新再敘述
這故事的更好辦法。
這故事的更好辦法。
06:56
But I do know that later, when I look back
130
401177
3000
但是我的確知道，
當我再回顧這首詩的時候，
當我再回顧這首詩的時候，
06:59
I will be able to know that
this is where I was at this moment
this is where I was at this moment
131
404201
3999
到時我就可以知道，
當時的我就是那個樣子，
07:03
and this is what I was trying to navigate,
132
408224
2199
那就是我當時在嘗試追尋的，
07:05
with these words, here,
in this room, with you.
in this room, with you.
133
410447
2827
用這些詞語，在這間屋子裡，
跟你們在一起。
跟你們在一起。
07:11
So --
134
416105
1150
所以，
07:13
Smile.
135
418652
1500
笑一個。
07:20
It didn't always work this way.
136
425310
1484
這樣通常行不通。
07:22
There's a time you had
to get your hands dirty.
to get your hands dirty.
137
427874
2407
有些時候，你總得親力而為，
大部分時間你都是在黑暗中摸索；
而「探索」本身其實就是一種恩典。
而「探索」本身其實就是一種恩典。
07:25
When you were in the dark,
for most of it, fumbling was a given.
for most of it, fumbling was a given.
138
430305
3785
07:29
If you needed more
contrast, more saturation,
contrast, more saturation,
139
434416
3396
如果你需要更多的對比，
更多的飽和度，
更多的飽和度，
讓黑暗變得更暗、亮的變得更亮，
07:32
darker darks and brighter brights,
140
437836
2103
07:34
they called it extended development.
141
439963
2697
他們把它稱之為「靜止顯影」。
07:37
It meant you spent longer inhaling
chemicals, longer up to your wrist.
chemicals, longer up to your wrist.
142
442684
3302
也就是說：你花更長時間
吸進更多的化學物質，泡得更久。
吸進更多的化學物質，泡得更久。
07:40
It wasn't always easy.
143
446010
1292
這不是一直都是那麼容易的。
07:42
Grandpa Stewart was a Navy photographer.
144
447937
2770
我祖父斯圖爾特
過去是一位海軍攝影師，
過去是一位海軍攝影師，
07:45
Young, red-faced
with his sleeves rolled up,
with his sleeves rolled up,
145
450731
2944
他年輕時紅光滿面，
袖子總是捲起來，
袖子總是捲起來，
07:48
fists of fingers like fat rolls of coins,
146
453699
2628
拳頭手指握起來
就像厚厚一疊硬幣。
就像厚厚一疊硬幣。
07:51
he looked like Popeye
the sailor man come to life.
the sailor man come to life.
147
456351
2820
看起來就像大力水手的真人版。
07:54
Crooked smile, tuft of chest hair,
148
459195
2417
笑起來嘴巴彎彎的，一簇簇的胸毛，
07:56
he showed up to World War II,
with a smirk and a hobby.
with a smirk and a hobby.
149
461636
3381
他去參加二戰，
帶著得意，帶著嗜好。
帶著得意，帶著嗜好。
07:59
When they asked him if he knew
much about photography,
much about photography,
150
465041
2666
當人們問他對攝影了解多少時，
08:02
he lied, learned to read
Europe like a map,
Europe like a map,
151
467731
3288
他沒說實話。
他學會看歐洲就像看地圖，
08:05
upside down, from the height
of a fighter plane,
of a fighter plane,
152
471043
3190
上下顛倒，從戰鬥機的高度。
08:09
camera snapping, eyelids flapping
153
474257
2501
快門不停的開闔，眼皮不斷的眨動，
08:11
the darkest darks and brightest brights.
154
476782
2215
他看到最黯的黑色，
也看過最亮的光明。
也看過最亮的光明。
08:13
He learned war like he could
read his way home.
read his way home.
155
479021
2986
他了解戰爭，
就像識途老馬認識回家的路一樣。
08:17
When other men returned,
they would put their weapons out to rest,
they would put their weapons out to rest,
156
482520
3104
別的軍人退伍歸鄉時，
武器一拋，不再留戀，
武器一拋，不再留戀，
但是他把鏡頭和相機帶回家。
08:20
but he brought the lenses
and the cameras home with him.
and the cameras home with him.
157
485648
2627
08:23
Opened a shop, turned it
into a family affair.
into a family affair.
158
488299
3063
將它們轉變為一個家庭事業。
08:26
My father was born into this
world of black and white.
world of black and white.
159
491386
3420
我父親生出在黑白照片的世代，
08:29
His basketball hands learned
the tiny clicks and slides
the tiny clicks and slides
160
494830
3170
他用籃球運動員般的大手，
學習操作那些細小的按鍵，
學習操作那些細小的按鍵，
08:32
of lens into frame, film into camera,
161
498024
2571
學習如何固定鏡頭、
將膠捲裝入相機、
將膠捲裝入相機、
08:35
chemical into plastic bin.
162
500619
1477
把化學物質裝入塑料桶。
08:37
His father knew the equipment
but not the art.
but not the art.
163
502120
2824
他的父親了解那些器材，
但是不懂藝術，
但是不懂藝術，
08:40
He knew the darks but not the brights.
164
505308
1843
他瞭解暗影的技術，
但是不知道如何利用光線。
但是不知道如何利用光線。
08:42
My father learned the magic,
spent his time following light.
spent his time following light.
165
507175
3675
我父親學到了其中的奧妙，
花了很多時間去追逐光線。
花了很多時間去追逐光線。
08:45
Once he traveled across the country
to follow a forest fire,
to follow a forest fire,
166
510874
3634
有一次他橫穿整個國家，
去追蹤一場森林大火，
去追蹤一場森林大火，
08:49
hunted it with his camera for a week.
167
514532
2555
用他的相機獵捕火災現場，
記錄了整整一周的景象。
記錄了整整一周的景象。
08:52
"Follow the light," he said.
168
517929
1452
「跟著光走！」 他這麼說。
08:54
"Follow the light."
169
519698
1176
「跟著亮光走。」
08:55
There are parts of me
I only recognize from photographs.
I only recognize from photographs.
170
520898
3173
我有一部分的人生，
只有照片的記憶，
只有照片的記憶，
08:58
The loft on Wooster Street
with the creaky hallways,
with the creaky hallways,
171
524095
2706
伍斯特街上的閣樓，
吱呀吱呀響的走廊，
吱呀吱呀響的走廊，
09:01
the twelve-foot ceilings,
white walls and cold floors.
white walls and cold floors.
172
526825
2700
12 英吋高的天花板、
白色的牆、冰冷的地板；
白色的牆、冰冷的地板；
09:04
This was my mother's home,
before she was mother.
before she was mother.
173
529549
2799
在她身為人母之前，
那就是我母親的家。
那就是我母親的家。
09:07
Before she was wife, she was artist.
174
532372
2857
在嫁人之前她是個藝術家。
09:10
And the only two rooms in the house,
175
535253
1739
房子裡僅僅只有 2 個房間，
09:11
with walls that reached
all the way up to the ceiling,
all the way up to the ceiling,
176
537016
2531
牆壁直達天花板，
門開了又關，
09:14
and doors that opened and closed,
177
539571
1587
09:16
were the bathroom and the darkroom.
178
541182
2261
裡面有洗手間和暗房。
09:18
The darkroom she built herself,
179
543814
2079
暗房是她自己製作的，
09:20
with custom-made stainless steel sinks,
an 8x10 bed enlarger
an 8x10 bed enlarger
180
545917
4595
裡面有特製的不鏽鋼水池，
一個 8x10 英吋大的相片放大器。
一個 8x10 英吋大的相片放大器。
09:25
that moved up and down
by a giant hand crank,
by a giant hand crank,
181
550536
2412
還有一支很大的手動曲柄，
可以用來上下移動工作平台，
可以用來上下移動工作平台，
09:27
a bank of color-balanced lights,
182
552972
1683
一整排的色彩平衡燈泡，
09:29
a white glass wall for viewing prints,
183
554679
1965
一面白色玻璃牆
用來看沖洗出來的照片，
用來看沖洗出來的照片，
09:31
a drying rack that moved
in and out from the wall.
in and out from the wall.
184
556668
2342
一個可以從牆上
拉進拉出的相片乾燥架。
拉進拉出的相片乾燥架。
09:33
My mother built herself a darkroom.
185
559034
2086
我的母親為她自己搭建了一個暗房，
09:36
Made it her home.
186
561144
1263
把它變成了她的家。
09:37
Fell in love with a man
with basketball hands,
with basketball hands,
187
562431
2660
愛上了一個有一雙手掌
長得像籃球員那樣大的男人，
長得像籃球員那樣大的男人，
09:40
with the way he looked at light.
188
565115
1880
愛上了他看待光線時的那種樣子。
09:42
They got married. Had a baby.
189
567375
2083
他們結婚了，生了一個小孩，
09:44
Moved to a house near a park.
190
569482
2190
搬去了一個靠近公園的房子，
09:46
But they kept the loft on Wooster Street
191
571696
1913
但是他們留著
伍斯特街上的那個閣樓。
伍斯特街上的那個閣樓。
09:48
for birthday parties and treasure hunts.
192
573633
2549
用來舉辦生日聚會和尋寶遊戲。
09:51
The baby tipped the grayscale,
193
576206
2404
小寶寶顛覆了黑白相冊，
09:53
filled her parents' photo albums
with red balloons and yellow icing.
with red balloons and yellow icing.
194
578634
3635
用紅色的氣球和黃色糖霜蛋糕，
點綴她父母相冊的色彩。
點綴她父母相冊的色彩。
09:57
The baby grew into a girl
without freckles,
without freckles,
195
582293
2769
小寶寶長大後
成為一個沒有雀斑的女孩，
成為一個沒有雀斑的女孩，
09:59
with a crooked smile,
196
585086
1492
笑起來嘴巴彎彎的。
10:01
who didn’t understand why her friends
did not have darkrooms in their houses,
did not have darkrooms in their houses,
197
586602
4460
她不明白為什麼
她朋友家中都沒有暗房，
她朋友家中都沒有暗房，
10:05
who never saw her parents kiss,
198
591086
1912
也從來沒有見過
他們的父母互相親吻，
他們的父母互相親吻，
10:07
who never saw them hold hands.
199
593022
1532
沒有見過他們牽手。
10:09
But one day, another baby showed up.
200
595006
1738
但是有一天，另外一個寶寶出現了。
10:11
This one with perfect straight
hair and bubble gum cheeks.
hair and bubble gum cheeks.
201
596768
3183
一個有著完美直髮，
臉頰像泡泡糖一樣的寶寶。
臉頰像泡泡糖一樣的寶寶。
10:14
They named him sweet potato.
202
599975
1626
他們管他叫「番薯。」
10:16
When he laughed, he laughed so loudly
203
601625
1932
當他笑的時候，總是笑得很大聲，
10:18
he scared the pigeons on the fire escape
204
603581
2158
嚇跑了站在逃生梯上的鴿子。
10:20
And the four of them lived
in that house near the park.
in that house near the park.
205
605763
2976
他們四個住在
一座靠近公園的房子裡，
一座靠近公園的房子裡，
一個臉上沒有雀斑的少女，
還有一個名字稱為「番薯」的男孩，
還有一個名字稱為「番薯」的男孩，
10:23
The girl with no freckles,
the sweet potato boy,
the sweet potato boy,
206
608763
2555
10:26
the basketball father and darkroom mother
207
611342
2126
有雙大手掌的父親
和有一間暗房的母親，
和有一間暗房的母親，
10:28
and they lit their candles
and said their prayers,
and said their prayers,
208
613492
2628
他們點亮了蠟燭，輕聲祈禱。
10:31
and the corners of the photographs curled.
209
616144
2054
照片的四角
在流逝的時光中開始捲曲。
在流逝的時光中開始捲曲。
10:33
One day, some towers fell.
210
618959
2508
有一天，塔樓倒塌了，
10:36
And the house near the park
became a house under ash, so they escaped
became a house under ash, so they escaped
211
621491
3729
靠近公園的房子，
變成了灰燼下的房子，
變成了灰燼下的房子，
所以他們背上背包逃走了。
10:40
in backpacks, on bicycles to darkrooms
212
625244
3263
騎上單車，逃向了暗房。
10:43
But the loft of Wooster Street
was built for an artist,
was built for an artist,
213
628531
2829
但伍斯特街的那個閣樓，
是為一個藝術家建造的，
是為一個藝術家建造的，
10:46
not a family of pigeons,
214
631384
2754
不是為了流浪鴿棲息而建造的，
10:49
and walls that do not reach the ceiling
do not hold in the yelling
do not hold in the yelling
215
634162
3372
牆壁不再是高到天花板，
房子也頂不住孩子的尖叫聲，
房子也頂不住孩子的尖叫聲，
10:52
and the man with basketball hands
put his weapons out to rest.
put his weapons out to rest.
216
637558
4242
有雙大手的男人，棄械投降，
10:56
He could not fight this war,
and no maps pointed home.
and no maps pointed home.
217
641824
3239
他無法打贏這場戰爭，
也沒地圖引導他回家。
也沒地圖引導他回家。
11:00
His hands no longer fit his camera,
218
645442
2199
他的手再也無法操作
他和太太的照相機。
他和太太的照相機。
11:02
no longer fit his wife's,
219
647665
1587
11:04
no longer fit his body.
220
649276
1436
他的手也無法聽從他的指揮。
番薯男孩打爛拳頭，塞進他的嘴巴，
11:06
The sweet potato boy mashed
his fists into his mouth
his fists into his mouth
221
651299
2684
11:08
until he had nothing more to say.
222
654007
1573
直到他再也說不出話來。
11:10
So, the girl without freckles
went treasure hunting on her own.
went treasure hunting on her own.
223
655604
3298
至於那個沒有雀斑的女孩，
則展開了自己的尋寶之旅。
則展開了自己的尋寶之旅。
11:14
And on Wooster Street, in a building
with the creaky hallways
with the creaky hallways
224
659497
3411
在伍斯特街那棟
走廊吱吱響的房子裡面，
走廊吱吱響的房子裡面，
11:17
and the loft with the 12-foot ceilings
225
662932
1828
天花板 12 英尺高的閣樓中，
佈滿很多水槽的暗房裡，
佈滿很多水槽的暗房裡，
11:19
and the darkroom with too many sinks
226
664784
1968
就在那座平衡色彩的燈架下，
她找到一張紙條，
她找到一張紙條，
11:21
under the color-balanced lights,
she found a note,
she found a note,
227
666776
2522
11:24
tacked to the wall with a thumb-tack,
left over from a time before towers,
left over from a time before towers,
228
669322
4253
被大頭針釘在牆壁上，
在塔樓建造之前早就被留那裏，
在塔樓建造之前早就被留那裏，
11:28
from the time before babies.
229
673933
2631
甚至在嬰兒們出生之前就已存在。
11:31
And the note said: "A guy sure loves
the girl who works in the darkroom."
the girl who works in the darkroom."
230
676588
4932
紙條上寫著：
「有個男人一定很珍愛
這暗房內的女孩。」
這暗房內的女孩。」
11:37
It was a year before my father
picked up a camera again.
picked up a camera again.
231
682758
2952
這是我父親重拾他的照相機，
之前一年發生的事情，
之前一年發生的事情，
11:41
His first time out, he followed
the Christmas lights,
the Christmas lights,
232
686238
2538
也是他之後第一次外出拍照，
跟著聖誕節的燈光，
跟著聖誕節的燈光，
11:43
dotting their way through
New York City's trees,
New York City's trees,
233
688800
2483
沿著紐約市樹梢上的燈光，
所點綴出來的路，
所點綴出來的路，
11:46
tiny dots of light, blinking out at him
from out of the darkest darks.
from out of the darkest darks.
234
691307
4699
微弱的光點不停的閃爍，
從最暗的暗處指引著他。
從最暗的暗處指引著他。
11:50
A year later he traveled
across the country to follow a forest fire
across the country to follow a forest fire
235
696030
3898
一年後，
他跨過了整個國家
去追尋一場森林大火，
去追尋一場森林大火，
11:54
stayed for a week hunting
it with his camera,
it with his camera,
236
699952
2512
用他的照相機搜尋火場，
整整記錄了一周的景象。
整整記錄了一周的景象。
11:57
it was ravaging the West Coast
237
702488
1852
這場大火吞噬了整個西海岸，
11:59
eating 18-wheeler trucks in its stride.
238
704364
2230
所到之處數不清的貨櫃車葬身火海。
12:01
On the other side of the country,
239
706618
1579
在國家的另外一邊，
12:03
I went to class and wrote a poem
in the margins of my notebook.
in the margins of my notebook.
240
708221
3358
我在課堂上的筆記本上
寫下了一首詩。
寫下了一首詩。
12:06
We have both learned the art of capture.
241
711603
1960
我們兩個彼此都掌握了捕捉的藝術。
12:08
Maybe we are learning
the art of embracing.
the art of embracing.
242
714059
2853
也許我們正在學習了擁抱的藝術。
12:11
Maybe we are learning
the art of letting go.
the art of letting go.
243
716936
3103
也許我們都是在學習
坦然放手的藝術。
坦然放手的藝術。
12:16
(Applause)
244
721357
4666
（鼓掌）
Translated by Ming Lee
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Sarah Kay - PoetA performing poet since she was 14 years old, Sarah Kay is the founder of Project VOICE, an organization that uses spoken word poetry as a literacy and empowerment tool.
Why you should listen
Plenty of 14-year-old girls write poetry. But few hide under the bar of the famous Bowery Poetry Club in Manhattan’s East Village absorbing the talents of New York’s most exciting poets. Not only did Sarah Kay do that -- she also had the guts to take its stage and hold her own against performers at least a decade her senior. Her talent for weaving words into poignant, funny, and powerful performances paid off.
Sarah holds a Masters degree in the art of teaching from Brown University and an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Grinnell College. Her first book, B, was ranked the number one poetry book on Amazon.com. Her second book, No Matter the Wreckage, is available from Write Bloody Publishing.
Sarah also founded Project VOICE, an organization that uses spoken word poetry as a literacy and empowerment tool. Project VOICE runs performances and workshops to encourage people to engage in creative self-expression in schools and communities around the world.
Sarah Kay | Speaker | TED.com