TEDxEast
Sarah Kay: How many lives can you live?
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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.
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（清唱）我看着月亮
月亮也看着我
月亮也看着我
00:21
The moon sees somebody that I don't see.
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月亮还看着那些
我没见过的人
我没见过的人
00:27
God bless the moon, and God bless me.
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上帝保佑月亮
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.
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上帝还保佑那些
我没见过的人
我没见过的人
00:40
If I get to heaven, before you do,
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如果我先你一步
上了天堂
上了天堂
00:46
I'll make a hole and pull you through.
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我会挖个洞
把你也拉去
把你也拉去
00:52
And I'll write your name on every star,
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我要将你的名字
写在每颗星星上
写在每颗星星上
00:58
and that way the world
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这样的话
世界看起来
世界看起来
01:02
won't seem so far.
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就没那么遥远
（清唱结束）
（清唱结束）
01:05
The astronaut will not be at work today.
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（诗歌朗诵）
宇航员今天不上班。
宇航员今天不上班。
01:10
He has called in sick.
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他请了病假。
他关掉了他的手机、他的电脑、
他的传呼机、他的闹钟。
他的传呼机、他的闹钟。
01:11
He has turned off his cell phone,
his laptop, his pager, his alarm clock.
his laptop, his pager, his alarm clock.
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黄色的大肥猫在他的沙发上沉睡。
01:16
There is a fat yellow cat
asleep on his couch,
asleep on his couch,
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雨滴打在窗户上，
01:20
raindrops against the window
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厨房的空气中
也没有咖啡的香味。
也没有咖啡的香味。
01:21
and not even the hint
of coffee in the kitchen air.
of coffee in the kitchen air.
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每个人都很紧张。
01:25
Everybody is in a tizzy.
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在15楼的工程师
停止了他在粒子机上的工作。
停止了他在粒子机上的工作。
01:26
The engineers on the 15th floor have
stopped working on their particle machine.
stopped working on their particle machine.
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反重力室正在泄漏，
01:30
The anti-gravity room is leaking,
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甚至连那戴着眼镜
又长着雀斑的、
又长着雀斑的、
01:32
and even the freckled kid with glasses,
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唯一工作就是倒垃圾的
小孩都感到紧张。
小孩都感到紧张。
01:34
whose only job is to take
out the trash, is nervous,
out the trash, is nervous,
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垃圾袋从手中滑落，
掉出一块香蕉皮和一只纸杯，
掉出一块香蕉皮和一只纸杯，
01:37
fumbles the bag, spills
a banana peel and a paper cup.
a banana peel and a paper cup.
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但是没人注意到。
01:39
Nobody notices.
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他们都在忙着重新计算
时间流逝所带来的损失。
时间流逝所带来的损失。
01:41
They are too busy recalculating
what this all mean for lost time.
what this all mean for lost time.
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我们每秒正在失去多少星系？
01:44
How many galaxies
are we losing per second?
are we losing per second?
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离下次火箭发射还有多久？
01:46
How long before next rocket
can be launched?
can be launched?
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某个地方的一个电子
飞离了它的能量云。
飞离了它的能量云。
01:48
Somewhere an electron
flies off its energy cloud.
flies off its energy cloud.
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一个黑洞爆发了。
01:51
A black hole has erupted.
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一位妈妈摆好了晚餐的餐桌。
01:53
A mother finishes setting
the table for dinner.
the table for dinner.
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一场法律与秩序的马拉松开始了。
01:56
A Law & Order marathon is starting.
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宇航员睡着了。
01:58
The astronaut is asleep.
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他忘了关掉他的手表，
02:00
He has forgotten to turn off his watch,
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滴答滴答的声音像是
金属脉冲撞击着他的手腕。
金属脉冲撞击着他的手腕。
02:02
which ticks, like a metal
pulse against his wrist.
pulse against his wrist.
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他却没听到。
02:05
He does not hear it.
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02:06
He dreams of coral reefs and plankton.
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他梦到了珊瑚礁和浮游生物。
他的手指摸到了
枕套上的帆船桅杆。
枕套上的帆船桅杆。
02:09
His fingers find
the pillowcase's sailing masts.
the pillowcase's sailing masts.
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他转了个身，
一下睁开了眼。
一下睁开了眼。
02:13
He turns on his side,
opens his eyes at once.
opens his eyes at once.
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他觉得潜水员应该
是这世上最棒的工作，
是这世上最棒的工作，
02:16
He thinks that scuba divers must have
the most wonderful job in the world.
the most wonderful job in the world.
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可以徜徉在无限的水域中。
02:20
So much water to glide through!
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02:25
(Applause)
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（掌声）
谢谢。
02:31
Thank you.
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当我还很小的时候，
有一个概念我还不能理解，
有一个概念我还不能理解，
02:33
When I was little, I could
not understand the concept
not understand the concept
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02:37
that you could only live one life.
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就是，一个人只能活一种人生。
02:40
I don't mean this metaphorically.
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我并不是在比喻，
我是说，我曾真的认为，
02:42
I mean, I literally thought
that I was going to get to do
that I was going to get to do
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02:45
everything there was to do
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我可以做所有我想做的事，
成为所有我想成为的人，
02:47
and be everything there was to be.
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一切只是时间的问题。
02:50
It was only a matter of time.
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02:51
And there was no limitation
based on age or gender
based on age or gender
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不受年龄、性别、
种族甚至时机的限制。
02:54
or race or even appropriate time period.
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我曾确信我可以真正的去体验，
02:57
I was sure that I was going
to actually experience
to actually experience
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作为一个民权运动的领导的感受，
03:01
what it felt like to be a leader
of the civil rights movement
of the civil rights movement
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或者一个居住在农场的
10岁小男孩面对沙尘暴时的情形，
10岁小男孩面对沙尘暴时的情形，
03:05
or a ten-year old boy living
on a farm during the dust bowl
on a farm during the dust bowl
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又或是像中国唐代的皇帝那样。
03:08
or an emperor of the Tang
dynasty in China.
dynasty in China.
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我妈说当人们问我，
03:12
My mom says that when people asked me
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长大后想做什么时，
我的典型回应是
我的典型回应是
03:14
what I wanted to be when I grew up,
my typical response was:
my typical response was:
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03:18
princess-ballerina-astronaut.
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公主—芭蕾舞演员—宇航员。
03:20
And what she doesn't understand
is that I wasn't trying to invent
is that I wasn't trying to invent
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而她不明白的是，我并不是
要试图去创造某种要将以上三者
要试图去创造某种要将以上三者
结合在一起的超级职业，
03:23
some combined super profession.
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我只是将我认为我将会
从事的职业列了出来：
从事的职业列了出来：
03:25
I was listing things I thought
I was gonna get to be:
I was gonna get to be:
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成为一位公主、一名芭蕾舞演员
以及一位宇航员，
以及一位宇航员，
03:28
a princess and a ballerina
and an astronaut.
and an astronaut.
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并且我很确信这些都会实现。
03:32
and I'm pretty sure the list
probably went on from there.
probably went on from there.
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但我经常被人泼冷水。
03:34
I usually just got cut off.
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我从来没质疑过自己能做什么，
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
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一切都只是时间问题而已。
03:39
so much of a question of when.
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03:42
And I was sure that if I was going
to do everything,
to do everything,
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而我明白如果我要实现所有的目标，
那可能意味着我得行动迅速一点。
03:44
that it probably meant I had
to move pretty quickly,
to move pretty quickly,
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因为我还有许多事情要做。
03:47
because there was a lot
of stuff I needed to do.
of stuff I needed to do.
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所以我一直在奔波忙碌，
03:49
So my life was constantly
in a state of rushing.
in a state of rushing.
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总是担心赶不上计划。
03:51
I was always scared
that I was falling behind.
that I was falling behind.
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作为一个在纽约长大的女孩，
我从小就知道，
我从小就知道，
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,
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匆忙是一种常态。
03:57
rushing was pretty normal.
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04:00
But, as I grew up, I had
this sinking realization,
this sinking realization,
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但是当我长大后，
我沮丧地意识到，
我沮丧地意识到，
04:04
that I wasn't gonna get to live
any more than one life.
any more than one life.
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我只能过一种生活。
我只能体验到作为一名生活在纽约的
04:08
I only knew what it felt like
to be a teenage girl
to be a teenage girl
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少女的感受，
04:11
in New York City,
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04:12
not a teenage boy in New Zealand,
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而不是生活在新西兰的小男孩，
04:14
not a prom queen in Kansas.
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或者一个堪萨斯州的
舞会皇后的感受。
舞会皇后的感受。
我只能通过我的双眼
去认识这个世界。
去认识这个世界。
04:17
I only got to see through my lens.
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正是在那时，
我开始迷上了故事，
我开始迷上了故事，
04:19
And it was around this time
that I became obsessed with stories,
that I became obsessed with stories,
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因为在故事里，
我可以通过别人的眼睛
我可以通过别人的眼睛
04:23
because it was through stories
that I was able to see
that I was able to see
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04:26
through someone else's lens,
however briefly or imperfectly.
however briefly or imperfectly.
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去认识这个世界，
尽管是片面的，或者不完美的。
尽管是片面的，或者不完美的。
04:30
And I started craving hearing
other people's experiences
other people's experiences
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然后我开始渴望听到别人的经历，
因为我是如此嫉妒
别人拥有的种种生活，
别人拥有的种种生活，
04:33
because I was so jealous
that there were entire lives
that there were entire lives
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而我却不能亲身经历，
04:37
that I was never gonna get to live,
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我想要倾听我错过的一切。
04:38
and I wanted to hear
about everything that I was missing.
about everything that I was missing.
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但是通过推己及人，
04:41
And by transitive property,
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我意识到有些人
可能永远也体会不到，
可能永远也体会不到，
04:42
I realized that some people
were never gonna get to experience
were never gonna get to experience
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04:46
what it felt like to be a teenage girl
in New York city.
in New York city.
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作为一个生活在纽约的少女的感受。
也就是说，他们不会知道，
04:48
Which meant that they weren't gonna know
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初吻后坐在地铁里的感受，
04:50
what the subway ride
after your first kiss feels like,
after your first kiss feels like,
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或者下雪的时候
世界多么的宁静。
世界多么的宁静。
04:54
or how quiet it gets when its snows.
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04:56
And I wanted them to know,
I wanted to tell them.
I wanted to tell them.
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而我想让他们知道，
我想要去告诉他们。
我想要去告诉他们。
而这也成为了最让我痴迷的事。
04:59
And this became the focus of my obsession.
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我忙于讲故事、分享故事
以及收集故事。
以及收集故事。
05:02
I busied myself telling stories
and sharing stories and collecting them.
and sharing stories and collecting them.
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直到最近，
05:05
And it's not until recently
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我才意识到我不能
在写诗的时候总是一蹴而就。
在写诗的时候总是一蹴而就。
05:07
that I realized that
I can't always rush poetry.
I can't always rush poetry.
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05:12
In April for National Poetry Month,
there's this challenge
there's this challenge
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在4月份的国家诗歌月有一个挑战，
诗歌界的许多诗人都参加了，
05:15
that many poets in the poetry
community participate in,
community participate in,
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它叫做30/30挑战。
05:19
and its called the 30/30 Challenge.
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05:21
The idea is you write a new poem
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规则就是你要在整个4月里，
每天写一首新诗。
05:24
every single day
for the entire month of April.
for the entire month of April.
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05:27
And last year, I tried it
for the first time
for the first time
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去年，我首次进行尝试，
并为自己高效的
诗歌创作能力所震惊。
诗歌创作能力所震惊。
05:29
and was thrilled by the efficiency
at which I was able to produce poetry.
at which I was able to produce poetry.
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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
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但是在月底的时候，
我回头再看我写的那30首诗，
我回头再看我写的那30首诗，
发现它们都是试图在讲同一个故事，
05:38
and discovered that they were
all trying to tell the same story,
all trying to tell the same story,
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不过我尝试了30种
不同的方法去讲述。
不同的方法去讲述。
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.
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然后我意识到这可能对于
更大范围内的其它故事来说也是一样。
更大范围内的其它故事来说也是一样。
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.
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我有一些这么多年来
一直尝试讲给别人听的故事，
一直尝试讲给别人听的故事，
05:51
I have stories that I have
tried to tell for years,
tried to tell for years,
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05:53
rewriting and rewriting and constantly
searching for the right words.
searching for the right words.
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不断的重写，不停的寻找
更恰当的词语。
更恰当的词语。
有一位名叫保尔·瓦雷里的
法国诗人、评论家，
法国诗人、评论家，
05:57
There's a French poet and essayist
by the name of Paul Valéry
by the name of Paul Valéry
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说过：“诗是无法完成的，
它只能是被放弃的。”
它只能是被放弃的。”
06:01
who said a poem is never
finished, it is only abandoned.
finished, it is only abandoned.
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06:05
And this terrifies me
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这句话吓坏了我，
因为它意味着
我可以一直重编、重写，
我可以一直重编、重写，
06:06
because it implies that I could keep
re-editing and rewriting forever
re-editing and rewriting forever
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只有我能决定
一首诗什么时候完结，
一首诗什么时候完结，
06:09
and its up to me to decide
when a poem is finished
when a poem is finished
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什么时候我可以抽身离开。
06:13
and when I can walk away from it.
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06:15
And this goes directly against
my very obsessive nature
my very obsessive nature
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而这直接违反了我执着于寻找
正确答案、完美词语
以及恰当形式的天性。
以及恰当形式的天性。
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.
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我把诗歌当成是生命中
06:22
And I use poetry in my life,
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一种帮助我理清并解决事情的方式。
06:24
as a way to help me navigate
and work through things.
and work through things.
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但是当我完成一首诗，
并不意味着我就解决了之前的疑惑，
并不意味着我就解决了之前的疑惑，
06:27
But just because I end the poem,
doesn't mean that I've solved
doesn't mean that I've solved
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那个让我大伤脑筋的难题。
06:30
what it was I was puzzling through.
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06:32
I like to revisit old poetry
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我喜欢重新审视那些旧诗，
因为它能帮我再现当时的情景，
06:34
because it shows me exactly
where I was at that moment
where I was at that moment
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告诉我当时我是在尝试探寻什么，
06:38
and what it was I was trying to navigate
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以及我当时选择用来
帮助自己的词语是什么。
帮助自己的词语是什么。
06:40
and the words that I chose to help me.
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06:43
Now, I have a story
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现在我有一个故事，
它困扰了我很多年，
06:44
that I've been stumbling
over for years and years
over for years and years
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我不确定我是否
找到了正确的韵律，
找到了正确的韵律，
06:47
and I'm not sure if I've found
the prefect form,
the prefect form,
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或者只是一种
让我可以继续完成的尝试，
让我可以继续完成的尝试，
06:50
or whether this is just one attempt
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用来重新寻找
再次叙述这故事的方法。
再次叙述这故事的方法。
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.
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06:56
But I do know that later, when I look back
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但是我的确知道
当我再回顾这首诗的时候，
当我再回顾这首诗的时候，
到时我就会知道，现在的我
就是未来回顾自己时的我，
就是未来回顾自己时的我，
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
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是我现在正尝试追寻的，
07:03
and this is what I was trying to navigate,
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用这些词句，在这里，
这间屋子里，和你们在一起。
这间屋子里，和你们在一起。
07:05
with these words, here,
in this room, with you.
in this room, with you.
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07:11
So --
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所以，
07:13
Smile.
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笑一个吧。
07:20
It didn't always work this way.
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这样通常是行不通的。
07:22
There's a time you had
to get your hands dirty.
to get your hands dirty.
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有时候，你总得亲力而为。
大部分时间你都在黑暗中摸索，
而探索本身就是一种恩典。
而探索本身就是一种恩典。
07:25
When you were in the dark,
for most of it, fumbling was a given.
for most of it, fumbling was a given.
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07:29
If you needed more
contrast, more saturation,
contrast, more saturation,
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如果你需要更多的
对比度，饱和度，
对比度，饱和度，
让黑暗更深邃，让光亮更耀眼，
07:32
darker darks and brighter brights,
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他们把这称之为延续发展。
07:34
they called it extended development.
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言下之意就是，你需要
花更多的时间吸收一切，直到饱和。
花更多的时间吸收一切，直到饱和。
07:37
It meant you spent longer inhaling
chemicals, longer up to your wrist.
chemicals, longer up to your wrist.
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这并不容易。
07:40
It wasn't always easy.
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07:42
Grandpa Stewart was a Navy photographer.
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我的祖父斯图瓦特，
他过去是一名海军摄影师。
他过去是一名海军摄影师。
他年轻时红光满面，
袖子总是卷起来，
袖子总是卷起来，
07:45
Young, red-faced
with his sleeves rolled up,
with his sleeves rolled up,
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拳头握起来就像一叠硬币一样。
07:48
fists of fingers like fat rolls of coins,
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看起来就像是真人版大力水手，
07:51
he looked like Popeye
the sailor man come to life.
the sailor man come to life.
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笑起来嘴巴弯弯的，
一撮胸毛在前。
一撮胸毛在前。
07:54
Crooked smile, tuft of chest hair,
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他参加过二战，喜欢坏笑，
有自己的爱好。
有自己的爱好。
07:56
he showed up to World War II,
with a smirk and a hobby.
with a smirk and a hobby.
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别人问他对摄影了解多少时，
07:59
When they asked him if he knew
much about photography,
much about photography,
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他没说实话。他躺在战斗机上，
从飞机上那么高的地方往下看，
从飞机上那么高的地方往下看，
08:02
he lied, learned to read
Europe like a map,
Europe like a map,
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就像把欧洲地图倒过来一样，
用这种方式认识欧洲。
用这种方式认识欧洲。
08:05
upside down, from the height
of a fighter plane,
of a fighter plane,
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08:09
camera snapping, eyelids flapping
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快门不停地按下，
眼皮不停地眨动，
眼皮不停地眨动，
他看过最深邃的黑暗，
也见过最明媚的光亮。
也见过最明媚的光亮。
08:11
the darkest darks and brightest brights.
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他就像寻找回家的路
一样看透了战争。
一样看透了战争。
08:13
He learned war like he could
read his way home.
read his way home.
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08:17
When other men returned,
they would put their weapons out to rest,
they would put their weapons out to rest,
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当别的军人回家时，
他们会带回武器珍藏，
他们会带回武器珍藏，
但是他带回家的却是镜头和相机。
08:20
but he brought the lenses
and the cameras home with him.
and the cameras home with him.
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开了家店，把他打理成家庭事务。
08:23
Opened a shop, turned it
into a family affair.
into a family affair.
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08:26
My father was born into this
world of black and white.
world of black and white.
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我的父亲出生在那个黑白世界。
他用他篮球般巨大的手掌
去学习操作那些小巧的按键，
去学习操作那些小巧的按键，
08:29
His basketball hands learned
the tiny clicks and slides
the tiny clicks and slides
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学习如何固定镜头，
将胶卷装入相机，
将胶卷装入相机，
08:32
of lens into frame, film into camera,
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把化学物质装入塑料桶。
08:35
chemical into plastic bin.
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他的父亲熟悉那些设备，
但是不懂艺术。
但是不懂艺术。
08:37
His father knew the equipment
but not the art.
but not the art.
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08:40
He knew the darks but not the brights.
164
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他了解暗影的技术，
却不了解如何利用光线。
却不了解如何利用光线。
当我的父亲意识到光线的魔力，
他花了很多时间去研究。
他花了很多时间去研究。
08:42
My father learned the magic,
spent his time following light.
spent his time following light.
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有一次他横穿整个国家，
为了追踪一场森林大火，
为了追踪一场森林大火，
08:45
Once he traveled across the country
to follow a forest fire,
to follow a forest fire,
166
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3634
用他的相机捕捉大火现场，
记录了整整一个星期。
记录了整整一个星期。
08:49
hunted it with his camera for a week.
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2555
08:52
"Follow the light," he said.
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“跟着光亮走！”他说。
08:54
"Follow the light."
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“跟着光芒走啊！”
我对自己人生的了解，
一部分也是来自这些影像。
一部分也是来自这些影像。
08:55
There are parts of me
I only recognize from photographs.
I only recognize from photographs.
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伍伊斯特街上的阁楼，
吱吱呀呀的楼道，
吱吱呀呀的楼道，
08:58
The loft on Wooster Street
with the creaky hallways,
with the creaky hallways,
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12英寸高的天花板，
白色的墙，冰冷的地板。
白色的墙，冰冷的地板。
09:01
the twelve-foot ceilings,
white walls and cold floors.
white walls and cold floors.
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2700
09:04
This was my mother's home,
before she was mother.
before she was mother.
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这是我妈妈的家，
在她成为我妈妈前的家。
在她成为我妈妈前的家。
在她嫁给我爸爸前，
她是个艺术家。
她是个艺术家。
09:07
Before she was wife, she was artist.
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房子里仅仅只有两个房间，
09:10
And the only two rooms in the house,
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墙壁直达天花板，
09:11
with walls that reached
all the way up to the ceiling,
all the way up to the ceiling,
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门被风吹了开了又关，
09:14
and doors that opened and closed,
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里面有洗手间和暗房。
09:16
were the bathroom and the darkroom.
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09:18
The darkroom she built herself,
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2079
暗房是她自己隔出来的，
里面有个特质的不锈钢水池，
和一个8*10英寸的相片放大机，
和一个8*10英寸的相片放大机，
09:20
with custom-made stainless steel sinks,
an 8x10 bed enlarger
an 8x10 bed enlarger
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还有一支很大的手动曲柄，
可以用来上下移动工作平台，
可以用来上下移动工作平台，
09:25
that moved up and down
by a giant hand crank,
by a giant hand crank,
181
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一整排的色彩平衡灯泡，
09:27
a bank of color-balanced lights,
182
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09:29
a white glass wall for viewing prints,
183
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一面白色玻璃墙
用来看冲洗出来的照片，
用来看冲洗出来的照片，
09:31
a drying rack that moved
in and out from the wall.
in and out from the wall.
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一个可以从墙上
拉进拉出的照片干燥架。
拉进拉出的照片干燥架。
我妈妈为她自己创造了一间暗房，
09:33
My mother built herself a darkroom.
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2086
把它变成了家。
09:36
Made it her home.
186
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1263
爱上了以一个有着
篮球运动员般手掌的先生，
篮球运动员般手掌的先生，
09:37
Fell in love with a man
with basketball hands,
with basketball hands,
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爱上了他寻找光亮的模样。
09:40
with the way he looked at light.
188
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1880
09:42
They got married. Had a baby.
189
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2083
他们结婚了，有了一个小孩，
搬去了一个靠近公园的房子。
09:44
Moved to a house near a park.
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但他们依然留着
伍斯特街上的那阁楼，
伍斯特街上的那阁楼，
09:46
But they kept the loft on Wooster Street
191
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1913
用来举办生日派对或是寻宝游戏。
09:48
for birthday parties and treasure hunts.
192
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2549
小宝宝的身影出现在黑白相册里，
09:51
The baby tipped the grayscale,
193
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2404
用红色气球和黄色的糖霜蛋糕
装点着她父母暗淡的相册。
装点着她父母暗淡的相册。
09:53
filled her parents' photo albums
with red balloons and yellow icing.
with red balloons and yellow icing.
194
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3635
09:57
The baby grew into a girl
without freckles,
without freckles,
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小宝宝长成了一个没有雀斑的女孩，
笑得嘴巴都歪了，
09:59
with a crooked smile,
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1492
她不明白为什么她朋友的
家里都没有暗房，
家里都没有暗房，
10:01
who didn’t understand why her friends
did not have darkrooms in their houses,
did not have darkrooms in their houses,
197
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她从来也没有见过自己父母亲吻，
10:05
who never saw her parents kiss,
198
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1912
或是牵手。
10:07
who never saw them hold hands.
199
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1532
10:09
But one day, another baby showed up.
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但是有一天，
另一个宝宝出现了。
另一个宝宝出现了。
一个有着完美的直发
泡泡糖般光滑面颊的宝宝。
泡泡糖般光滑面颊的宝宝。
10:11
This one with perfect straight
hair and bubble gum cheeks.
hair and bubble gum cheeks.
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他们叫他“甜番薯”。
10:14
They named him sweet potato.
202
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当他笑得时候，
他总是笑得那么响亮，
他总是笑得那么响亮，
10:16
When he laughed, he laughed so loudly
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1932
吓跑了逃生梯上的鸽子们。
10:18
he scared the pigeons on the fire escape
204
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他们四个就这样住在
一个靠近公园的房子里。
一个靠近公园的房子里。
10:20
And the four of them lived
in that house near the park.
in that house near the park.
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一位脸上没有雀斑的女孩，
一位为叫做甜番薯男孩，
一位为叫做甜番薯男孩，
10:23
The girl with no freckles,
the sweet potato boy,
the sweet potato boy,
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2555
一位篮球运动员般的父亲，
还有一位有个暗房的母亲，
还有一位有个暗房的母亲，
10:26
the basketball father and darkroom mother
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他们点亮了蜡烛轻声祈祷，
10:28
and they lit their candles
and said their prayers,
and said their prayers,
208
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照片的四角在流逝的
时光中开始卷曲。
时光中开始卷曲。
10:31
and the corners of the photographs curled.
209
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2054
10:33
One day, some towers fell.
210
618959
2508
有一天，有几座塔楼倒塌了。
原来靠近公园的房子
被烧成了灰烬，所以他们逃了出来，
被烧成了灰烬，所以他们逃了出来，
10:36
And the house near the park
became a house under ash, so they escaped
became a house under ash, so they escaped
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他们背着包，骑着单车
回到他们的暗房。
回到他们的暗房。
10:40
in backpacks, on bicycles to darkrooms
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但是伍斯特街上的阁楼
却是为一个艺术家建造的，
却是为一个艺术家建造的，
10:43
But the loft of Wooster Street
was built for an artist,
was built for an artist,
213
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2829
而不是为了这流浪的一家人，
10:46
not a family of pigeons,
214
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2754
墙壁不再是高到天花板，
房子也挺不住孩子们的吵闹，
房子也挺不住孩子们的吵闹，
10:49
and walls that do not reach the ceiling
do not hold in the yelling
do not hold in the yelling
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有双篮球般大手的男人，
把他的武器珍藏了起来。
把他的武器珍藏了起来。
10:52
and the man with basketball hands
put his weapons out to rest.
put his weapons out to rest.
216
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他无法打赢这场战争，
也没有地图可以指引他回家。
也没有地图可以指引他回家。
10:56
He could not fight this war,
and no maps pointed home.
and no maps pointed home.
217
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3239
11:00
His hands no longer fit his camera,
218
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2199
他的手再也无法操作他的相机，
还有他太太的相机，
11:02
no longer fit his wife's,
219
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1587
他的手也不再听从他的指挥。
11:04
no longer fit his body.
220
649276
1436
11:06
The sweet potato boy mashed
his fists into his mouth
his fists into his mouth
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2684
甜番薯男孩把拳头塞进了嘴里，
直到他再也说不出话来。
11:08
until he had nothing more to say.
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1573
至于那个没有雀斑的女孩，
开始了她自己的寻宝之旅。
开始了她自己的寻宝之旅。
11:10
So, the girl without freckles
went treasure hunting on her own.
went treasure hunting on her own.
223
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3298
11:14
And on Wooster Street, in a building
with the creaky hallways
with the creaky hallways
224
659497
3411
在伍伊斯特街上那
楼梯吱吱响的房子里，
楼梯吱吱响的房子里，
天花板高达12英尺的阁楼里，
11:17
and the loft with the 12-foot ceilings
225
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1828
那间布满很多水槽的暗房里，
11:19
and the darkroom with too many sinks
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1968
就在那个平衡色彩灯泡架下，
她找到了一个纸条，
她找到了一个纸条，
11:21
under the color-balanced lights,
she found a note,
she found a note,
227
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2522
被钉在墙壁上，
在塔楼建成前就被留在那里，
在塔楼建成前就被留在那里，
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
11:28
from the time before babies.
229
673933
2631
甚至在孩子们出生前就在那儿。
上面写着：“有个男孩一定会
深爱着留在暗房里的女孩。”
深爱着留在暗房里的女孩。”
11:31
And the note said: "A guy sure loves
the girl who works in the darkroom."
the girl who works in the darkroom."
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4932
11:37
It was a year before my father
picked up a camera again.
picked up a camera again.
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2952
这是我的父亲在重拾
他的相机的一年前发生的事情。
他的相机的一年前发生的事情。
11:41
His first time out, he followed
the Christmas lights,
the Christmas lights,
232
686238
2538
之后他再一次决心外出拍摄，
跟随着圣诞节的灯光，
跟随着圣诞节的灯光，
沿着纽约市树梢上的彩灯
所打亮的街道，
所打亮的街道，
11:43
dotting their way through
New York City's trees,
New York City's trees,
233
688800
2483
微弱的彩灯闪闪烁烁，
从黑暗的深处指引着他的路途。
从黑暗的深处指引着他的路途。
11:46
tiny dots of light, blinking out at him
from out of the darkest darks.
from out of the darkest darks.
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4699
一年以后，他跨越了整个国家，
去寻找那场森林大火，
去寻找那场森林大火，
11:50
A year later he traveled
across the country to follow a forest fire
across the country to follow a forest fire
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3898
他的相机搜寻着火场，
整整记录了一周的景象，
整整记录了一周的景象，
11:54
stayed for a week hunting
it with his camera,
it with his camera,
236
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2512
这场大火吞噬了整个西岸，
11:57
it was ravaging the West Coast
237
702488
1852
所到之处所有的大型货车都被吞噬。
11:59
eating 18-wheeler trucks in its stride.
238
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2230
12:01
On the other side of the country,
239
706618
1579
在国家的另一边，
我在课堂记录本的空白处
写下了一首诗。
写下了一首诗。
12:03
I went to class and wrote a poem
in the margins of my notebook.
in the margins of my notebook.
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3358
我们两个都掌握了捕捉的艺术。
12:06
We have both learned the art of capture.
241
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1960
12:08
Maybe we are learning
the art of embracing.
the art of embracing.
242
714059
2853
也许我们都在学习拥抱世界的艺术。
也许我们都在学习坦然放手的艺术。
12:11
Maybe we are learning
the art of letting go.
the art of letting go.
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（掌声）
12:16
(Applause)
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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