英语博客(A cup of English):053 Own the night.

　　Beginners.
I have a very special friend who lives in the *neighborhood. She is seventy-five years old, and actually comes from England, just like me. She was a war bride during World War two. She is originally from Liverpool (where the Beatles came from), and still has a little bit of an accent, even though she has lived here for nearly sixty years. We chat on the phone every few days, talk about politics and families, and occasionally get together. She called me today for help. She had been sent an important package, but could not unlock¹ the delivery box with the key that the *mail man had left for her. It was already late at night, but she was worried about not receiving her package. So, I went to her house to get the key. "You're not going alone in the dark are you?" she asked as I was leaving her house. "Well, yes I am," I replied. "Alone in the dark?" she continued. "Sweetheart, don't worry. I like the dark," I replied and went on my way. As I walked down her driveway, I realized that it really was dark outside. The temperature was a comfortable cool, and nobody was around. What I had said about the dark made me feel braver than usual. The words "Own the night" came to my mind, as if I was in a small adventure, moving through the darkness to get a secret package.
Grammar notes.
Neighborhood (Am.) neighbourhood (Eng.)
Mail man (Am.) post man (Eng.)
Related vocabulary: warbride, originally, politics, delivery, brave.
Advanced.
Dark is the night. As black as night. The secrets of the night. Have you noticed how there is something sinister² in many night-related sayings. Our imaginations go wild with the subject of the night. The world seems to completely change, if you think about it. We, as people, head toward rest and sleep. The sun, which is everywhere during the day, is no longer available, and shadows and the unknown take over. Even a different set of animals appear on the scene as the world darkens: owls³, rodents⁴ and cats. All the other day time animals, like us, are sleeping. I don't seem to be too scared of the dark. I like to walk around in the back garden at night. It is so fresh and still. Everything feels so different when your dominant⁵ sense of sight is no longer useful. When I walked to the mailbox tonight, in the dark, it occured to me, that if you have the right perspective, you can feel comfortable and confident in the dark. You must own the night. I moved quickly to the mailbox while I thought of these things. Really, noone would see me unless they had a flashlight. If you walk quickly, you give an air of purpose and power. "What is there to fear?" is what your body is saying. I also have short hair, so, in the shadows I probably look like a man. Plus, I was carrying a sharp key and a cell phone. So, I was safe. I owned the night. I chose to see the night as a cloak⁶ that I put around me, and that I could move freely with. Our senses can be alive and sensitive at night, though we cannot see, and we can initiate⁷ and move effectively in this time that is not officially our domain⁸.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: sinister, available, unknown, dominant, rodents, confident, noone/nobody, flashlight, purpose, sharp, cloak, initiate.

1 unlock   

v.启示，揭示，开...的锁

参考例句：

• The border police required the traveler to unlock his luggage.边防警察要求旅客打开行李。
• We heard somebody unlock the door.我们听见有人开门锁。

2 sinister   

adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的

参考例句：

• There is something sinister at the back of that series of crimes.在这一系列罪行背后有险恶的阴谋。
• Their proposals are all worthless and designed out of sinister motives.他们的建议不仅一钱不值，而且包藏祸心。

3 owls   

n.猫头鹰( owl的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• 'Clumsy fellows,'said I; 'they must still be drunk as owls.' “这些笨蛋，”我说，“他们大概还醉得像死猪一样。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• The great majority of barn owls are reared in captivity. 大多数仓鸮都是笼养的。 来自辞典例句

4 rodents   

n.啮齿目动物( rodent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Rodents carry diseases and are generally regarded as pests. 啮齿目动物传播疾病，常被当作害虫对待。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Some wild rodents in Africa also harbor the virus. 在非洲，有些野生啮齿动物也是储毒者。 来自辞典例句

5 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

6 cloak   

n.斗蓬，披风，掩饰，幌子；vt.掩盖，掩饰

参考例句：

• The snow covered up the fields with a white cloak.积雪给田野盖上了一件白色的外衣。
• She threw a heavy woollen cloak over her shoulders.她把一件厚重的羊毛斗篷披在肩上。

7 initiate   

vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入

参考例句：

• A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。
• They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。

8 domain   

n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围

参考例句：

• This information should be in the public domain.这一消息应该为公众所知。
• This question comes into the domain of philosophy.这一问题属于哲学范畴。