Featherweight
by Suzy Kassem
One evening,
I sat by the ocean and questioned the moon about my destiny.
I revealed to it that I was beginning to feel smaller compared to others,
Because the more secrets of the universe I would unlock,
The smaller in size I became.
I didn't understand why I wasn't feeling larger instead of smaller.
I thought that seeking Truth was what was required of us all –
To show us the way, not to make us feel lost,
Up against the odds,
In a devilish game partitioned by
An invisible wall.
Then the next morning,
A bird appeared at my window, just as the sun began
Spreading its yolk over the horizon.
It remained perched for a long time,
Gazing at me intently, to make sure I knew I wasn’t dreaming.
Then its words gently echoed throughout my mind,
Telling me:
'The world you are in –
Is the true hell.
The journey to Truth itself
Is what quickens the heart to become lighter.
The lighter the heart, the purer it is.
The purer the heart, the closer to light it becomes.
And the heavier the heart,
The more chained to this hell
It will remain.'
And just like that, it flew off towards the sun,
Leaving behind a tiny feather.
So I picked it up,
And fastened it to a toothpick,
To dip into ink
And write my name.”
Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem
Author info: Suzy Kassem is an American writer, poet, philosopher, and multi-faceted artist of Egyptian origin.
***************************************
英中文对照
Featherweight
轻燕细羽
by Suzy Kassem
作者 苏芮.卡西姆
Tr. Forest
One evening,
I sat by the ocean and questioned the moon about my destiny.
I revealed to it that I was beginning to feel smaller compared to others,
Because the more secrets of the universe I would unlock,
The smaller in size I became.
傍晚时分海边坐
问月吾命何去从
与人相比见渺小
窥密宇宙更无踪
I didn't understand why I wasn't feeling larger instead of smaller.
I thought that seeking Truth was what was required of us all –
To show us the way, not to make us feel lost,
Up against the odds,
In a devilish game partitioned by
An invisible wall.
义不容辞求真理
不明心智尚无获
大道何在仍迷失
硬撞隐墙难解惑
Then the next morning,
A bird appeared at my window, just as the sun began
Spreading its yolk over the horizon.
It remained perched for a long time,
Gazing at me intently, to make sure I knew I wasn’t dreaming.
Then its words gently echoed throughout my mind,
Telling me:
隔日早起初阳暖
小鸟长栖窗柩间
聚精会神出梦魇
柔思回荡传明鉴
'The world you are in –
Is the true hell.
The journey to Truth itself
Is what quickens the heart to become lighter.
The lighter the heart, the purer it is.
The purer the heart, the closer to light it becomes.
And the heavier the heart,
The more chained to this hell
It will remain.'
红尘凡事如噩眠
去伪存真轻身燕
轻而净宁静致远
凝且重如坠深渊
And just like that, it flew off towards the sun,
Leaving behind a tiny feather.
So I picked it up,
And fastened it to a toothpick,
To dip into ink
And write my name.”
眨眼飞鸟向太阳
一枝细羽落屋旁
拾来绑在牙签尾
淡墨写名勿感伤
***************
中文翻译全文
轻燕细羽
作者 苏芮.卡西姆
翻译 夏末秋雨暖玉
傍晚时分海边坐
问月吾命何去从
与人相比见渺小
窥密宇宙更无踪
义不容辞求真理
不明心智尚无获
大道何在仍迷失
硬撞隐墙难解惑
隔日早起初阳暖
小鸟长栖窗柩间
聚精会神出梦魇
柔思回荡传明鉴
红尘凡事如噩眠
去伪存真轻身燕
轻而净宁静致远
凝且重如坠深渊
眨眼飞鸟向太阳
一枝细羽落屋旁
拾来绑在牙签尾
淡墨写名勿感伤
***************
Enlightenment