精美英文欣赏:一个海地地震灾民的内心独白

The family has set up camp in my brother’s house. I live just next door, but it makes us feel better to be all in the same house. My brother, a novelist, is writing his articles; I am writing mine. From time to time a tremor¹ will make us pause and run back outside, just in case, to be safe. I wonder how long we will have to be so cautious, and I long for normalcy.

全家人都住到我弟的屋子里了。虽然我本来就住他隔壁,现在整家人住到同一间屋子里,感觉更好。我弟是个小说家,他正在写文章,我也在写我的文章。不时,一阵震动会使我们赶忙放下手头上的事,为安全起见,跑到屋外,以防万一。我想知道如此提心吊胆小心谨慎地过日子还要持续多久,我渴望过正常的生活。

We sleep. We listen to the radio. We exchange information. Mostly, we have been trying to stay alive and sane² since that Tuesday afternoon a week ago when the earthquake changed our lives forever. It doesn’t help that the earth continues to convulse. Just this morning, we felt another tremor, the most violent since the earthquake itself. Let us hope it did not cause more deaths and damage.

我们睡觉,听广播,交换信息,但最主要的还是努力求生和保持理智,因为一周前的那个周二下午,一场地震永远改变了我们的生活。而余震不断,更是雪上加霜。就在今早,我们又遭遇了那场地震后最猛烈的一次余震,我们只能期盼这次余震不要导致更多的人命伤亡,不要造成更大的破坏。

I do not recognize the streets of Port-au-Prince. In front of what used to be a school, three corpses³ are covered demurely⁴ by a blue sheet. Feet and eyes carefully avoid the small cadavers⁵. A few miles down, the Sacré-Coeur church, where the upper-middle class used to be baptized, married, and buried, is a big pile of rubbish.

我都认不出Port-au-Prince街道了。在曾是一所学校的校址前,三具尸体被整齐地盖在一块蓝布之下。大家的脚和视线都小心地避开那些小小的尸体。几英里以外的那所Sacré-Coeur教堂——中上阶层的人过去常在那接受洗礼,举行婚礼或葬礼——现在只剩下一片断壁残垣。

Under the broken glass and bricks of the five-story Caribbean Supermarket—which carried the most varied⁶ imported products and where foreigners were most likely to meet one another—women, men, and children lie trapped, given up for dead. On Monday, rescuers managed to free from the site a young woman who was still alive. That same day, a grief-stricken family identified the body of a 27-year-old mother of a 6-month-old girl who was not so lucky.

在那栋五层楼高的“加勒比海超市”——这里的进口商品最多样,且外国人大多喜欢选择在此与他人相会——男女老少被压在破碎的玻璃和砖块之下,搜救无望。周一,救援人员在那成功救出了一个仍生还着的年轻女子。同一天,有人没那么幸运了,一个悲伤欲绝的家庭在那里确认了一具27岁女人的尸体,她是一名六个月大女婴的母亲。

In the evening, the digging for bodies ceases, as does the search for drinking water and food, for news about missing parents and friends. Tired, terrified of the dark and its dreams of tremors⁷, of the morning and its bad news, secretly—or not—relieved to be alive, we try to sleep.

晚上,挖掘被困人员及尸体的工作停下了,搜寻饮用水、食物、失踪父母及朋友讯息的工作也停下了。疲惫,恐惧黑夜及有关余震的梦魇,恐惧清晨及在清晨将获悉的坏消息,暗自或公开庆幸自己还活着,在这种状况下,我们努力入睡。

In the background, the few radio stations that can still broadcast convey the messages of agonized⁸ families and friends. A father comes all the way from a little village in the south of Haiti looking for his two daughters. Although his voice is breaking, he manages to enunciate⁹ their names and please could somebody, anybody tell him if they are alive? The newscaster quickly repeats the message and introduces someone else. There are so many of them, a litany of desperate voices.

少数仍能运作的广播电台四处播送着那些极度痛苦的家人朋友发来的信息。一位父亲从海地南部一个小乡村远道而来寻找他的两个女儿。尽管他的声音已变嘶哑,他仍清楚地念出了她们的名字,请求有人能告诉他,女儿是否还活着。新闻广播员快速复述了这条信息,并继续播送其他人的信息。焦急寻人的民众如此多,一连串播出的都是伤心欲绝的声音。

Night settles. The stars provide the only light; the electricity has not been restored. We save the energy from our Inverter generator¹⁰ system to run the Internet, so we can stay in contact with friends and family. The telephone lines are unreliable.

夜幕降临,因电力尚未恢复,星星是唯一的光源。我们从变频发电系统那省下电来连通网络,这样我们就能和家人朋友们保持联系。电话线路不太稳定。

But we Haitians are nevertheless connected, regardless of our social conditions, our economic status, our religious beliefs, if only because we share the same uncertainties¹¹, the same fears about the monstrous¹² size of the task at hand.

尽管如此,我们海地人还是团结联系在一起了,不分社会地位、经济地位以及宗教信仰,也许就是因为我们面对这同一“未知数”,庞大严峻的任务摆在眼前,我们有着同一恐惧。

Although the earthquake does remind us of our common and fragile destiny, the fact that the earth trembles and destroys with equal brutality¹³ luxurious¹⁴ and shabby houses, small and huge enterprises does not obscure the inequalities that divide Haiti. Social and economic disparities, the unjust distribution of our resources, and the dire¹⁵ poverty of the majority of the population cannot magically evaporate with the dust. But maybe this disaster will constitute a new beginning. Maybe the reconstruction¹⁶ effort that is now so urgent will also work to narrow the gaps between us.

尽管地震的确提醒了我们,生命殊途同归,平凡而脆弱,房子无论奢华破旧,企业无论大小强弱,均被地震残酷摧毁,同样惨不忍睹,但这并未模糊海地国内人民之间的不平等。社会地位、经济地位的不平等,资源分配的不平等以及大部分人生活在赤贫中这些事实不会神奇地随尘埃蒸发。但也许这场灾难将带来一个新的开始。也许目前如此紧急的重建工作也将缩小海地人民之间的各方面差距。

It is with a sense of warmth that I think of all the messages of solidarity¹⁷ I have received from around the world. Like most Haitians, I marvel¹⁸ at the signs of humanity—fund-raisers, simple letters of sympathy, offers of help: “Just tell me what you need!” But it is our government’s responsibility to help those most in need.

想到我从世界各地收到的所有团结的信息,我感到温馨。像大多海地人一样,我为大家人性关怀的表现而赞叹——筹款活动,只言片语传递关怀,提供帮助:“只要告诉我你们需要什么就行了!”但帮助大多处在危难中的人是我们政府的职责所在。

I am focusing now on what is essential in life: love and friendship. Like most people here, I am not watching the news. We have limited power. And anyway, it seems futile¹⁹ and even absurd to be a spectator of my own life, especially when the TV images highlight only the misery²⁰ of our country. Many of us Haitians are offended by the coverage²¹ of the earthquake. Once more, a natural disaster serves as an occasion to showcase the impoverishment²², to exaggerate the scenes of violence that are common to any catastrophe²³ of this type.

现在,我关注的是生命最基本的要素——爱和友谊。像这里的大多数人一样,我不看新闻。我们的电力有限。而且,怎么说,做自己生命的旁观者似乎毫无意义,甚至可笑,特别是当电视里的报导只一味强调我们国家的痛苦时。我们这些海地人,大多都对关于这场地震的报导感到恼火。又一次,一场自然灾害被用作一次机会来展示当地的贫苦,夸大同类大灾难下普遍会有的暴力场面。

No, I am not watching the news. I am too busy trying to find a way to keep my hope alive because the work in front of us is humongous. I am busy rejoicing in the laughter of the children in the camp near our house, smiling at the comical reactions of a passer-by after a recent aftershock. I am busy shedding tears at the news of a miraculous²⁴ rescue of six students from the wreckage²⁵ of a university building. I am busy collecting the fragments of life that reflect the enormous courage and resilience among us.

不,我不看新闻。我太忙了,忙着寻找一种途径保持心中的希望,因为我们眼前的工作太庞大了;忙着欣喜地沉浸在我们屋子附近那些营地里的孩子的笑声中;忙着笑那个路人在刚发生的余震中的滑稽反应;忙着为六个学生奇迹般地被从一栋大学楼房废墟中救出来的消息而感动得落泪;忙着收集反映我们海地人民巨大勇气及生命韧力的片段。

I am busy loving life and my country.

我忙着热爱生命,热爱我的祖国。

1 tremor   

n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震

参考例句：

• There was a slight tremor in his voice.他的声音有点颤抖。
• A slight earth tremor was felt in California.加利福尼亚发生了轻微的地震。

2 sane   

adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的

参考例句：

• He was sane at the time of the murder.在凶杀案发生时他的神志是清醒的。
• He is a very sane person.他是一个很有头脑的人。

3 corpses   

n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The living soldiers put corpses together and burned them. 活着的战士把尸体放在一起烧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Overhead, grayish-white clouds covered the sky, piling up heavily like decaying corpses. 天上罩满了灰白的薄云，同腐烂的尸体似的沉沉的盖在那里。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

4 demurely   

adv.装成端庄地，认真地

参考例句：

• "On the forehead, like a good brother,'she answered demurely. "吻前额，像个好哥哥那样，"她故作正经地回答说。 来自飘（部分）
• Punctuation is the way one bats one's eyes, lowers one's voice or blushes demurely. 标点就像人眨眨眼睛，低声细语，或伍犯作态。 来自名作英译部分

5 cadavers   

n.尸体( cadaver的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Human cadavers were the only known source of hGH, and demand was intense. 人类尸体是hGH已知的惟一来源，而且需求广泛。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 口蹄疫疯牛病
• Will there be enough cadavers for each group this term? 这个学期每一个组都有足够的尸体吗？ 来自电影对白

6 varied   

adj.多样的，多变化的

参考例句：

• The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
• The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。

7 tremors   

震颤( tremor的名词复数 )； 战栗； 震颤声； 大地的轻微震动

参考例句：

• The story was so terrible that It'sent tremors down my spine. 这故事太可怕，它使我不寒而栗。
• The story was so terrible that it sent tremors down my spine. 这故事太可怕，它使我不寒而栗。

8 agonized   

v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦

参考例句：

• All the time they agonized and prayed. 他们一直在忍受痛苦并且祈祷。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She agonized herself with the thought of her loss. 她念念不忘自己的损失，深深陷入痛苦之中。 来自辞典例句

9 enunciate   

v.发音；（清楚地）表达

参考例句：

• Actors learn how to enunciate clearly in the theatrical college.演员在戏剧学院学习怎样清晰地发音。
• He is always willing to enunciate his opinions on the subject of politics.他总是愿意对政治问题发表意见。

10 generator   

n.发电机，发生器

参考例句：

• All the while the giant generator poured out its power.巨大的发电机一刻不停地发出电力。
• This is an alternating current generator.这是一台交流发电机。

11 uncertainties   

无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物

参考例句：

• One of the uncertainties of military duty is that you never know when you might suddenly get posted away. 任军职不稳定的因素之一是你永远不知道什么时候会突然被派往它处。
• Uncertainties affecting peace and development are on the rise. 影响和平与发展的不确定因素在增加。 来自汉英非文学 - 十六大报告

12 monstrous   

adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的

参考例句：

• The smoke began to whirl and grew into a monstrous column.浓烟开始盘旋上升，形成了一个巨大的烟柱。
• Your behaviour in class is monstrous!你在课堂上的行为真是丢人！

13 brutality   

n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮

参考例句：

• The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. 罪行之残暴使公众大为震惊。
• a general who was infamous for his brutality 因残忍而恶名昭彰的将军

14 luxurious   

adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的

参考例句：

• This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

15 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

16 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

17 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

18 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

19 futile   

adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的

参考例句：

• They were killed,to the last man,in a futile attack.因为进攻失败，他们全部被杀，无一幸免。
• Their efforts to revive him were futile.他们对他抢救无效。

20 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

21 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

22 impoverishment   

n.贫穷，穷困；贫化

参考例句：

• Therefore, the spiritual impoverishment is a more fearful social phenomenon. 所以，精神贫困是一种比物质贫困更隐蔽更可怕的社会现象。 来自互联网
• Impoverishment is compounded by many elements, and can transmit to be a pernicious cycle. 贫困是由多种因素复合而成的，并且具有传递性，形成贫困的恶性循环。 来自互联网

23 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

24 miraculous   

adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的

参考例句：

• The wounded man made a miraculous recovery.伤员奇迹般地痊愈了。
• They won a miraculous victory over much stronger enemy.他们战胜了远比自己强大的敌人，赢得了非凡的胜利。

25 wreckage   

n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏

参考例句：

• They hauled him clear of the wreckage.他们把他从形骸中拖出来。
• New states were born out of the wreckage of old colonial empires.新生国家从老殖民帝国的废墟中诞生。