英文故事剧 竹子的启示(The Lesson of the Bamboo Trees)

竹子，在中国传统文化中，一直是清秀俊逸、高洁无华的象征。

小时候，一直觉得是竹子那高雅的姿态和纤秀的外表让苏东坡吟出“宁可食无肉，不可居无竹。无肉令人瘦，无竹令人俗。”这样的句子。直至慢慢长大，能静下心来细细观察竹子，才真正领会到：竹子的高雅并非在于它摇曳生姿的翠竿，而在于那“雪压不倒，风吹不折”（郑板桥语）的韧性，和那“能弯曲而不能折断”的尊严。

多年以后，看到这篇英文小品，让我再一次对竹子肃然起敬。听听这篇广播剧，一起来体会竹子的生活态度：bend, but don't break!

One of my fondest memories as a child is going by the river and sitting idly on the bank. There I would enjoy the peace and quiet, watch the water rush downstream and listen to the chirps¹ of birds and the rustling² of leaves in the trees. I would also watch the bamboo trees bend under pressure from the wind and watch them return gracefully³ to their original position after the wind had died down.

When I think about the bamboo tree's ability to bounce back or return to its original position, the word "resilience" comes to mind. When used in reference to a person this word means the ability to readily recover from shock, depression or any other situation that stretches the limits of a person's emotions.

Have you ever felt like you are about to snap? Have you ever felt like you are at your breaking point? Thankfully, you have survived the experience to live to talk about it.

During the experience you probably felt a mix of emotions that threatened your health. You felt emotionally drained, mentally exhausted⁴ and you most likely endured unpleasant physical symptoms.

Life is a mixture of good times and bad times, happy moments and unhappy moments. The next time you are experiencing one of those bad times or unhappy moments that take you close to your breaking point, bend, but don't break. Try your best not to let the situation get the best of you.

A measure of hope will take you through the unpleasant ordeal⁵. With hope for a better tomorrow or a better situation, things may not be as bad as they seem to be. The unpleasant ordeal may be easier to deal with if the end result is worth having.

If the going gets tough and you are at your breaking point, show resilience. Like the bamboo tree, bend, but don't break!

1 chirps   

鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的第三人称单数 )； 啾； 啾啾

参考例句：

• The linnet chirps her vernal song. 红雀吱喳鸣叫着她春天的歌。
• She heard nothing but the chirps and whirrs of insects. 除了虫的鸣叫声外，她什么也没听见。

2 rustling   

n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的

参考例句：

• the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
• the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声

3 gracefully   

ad.大大方方地；优美地

参考例句：

• She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet. 她优雅地坐到他脚旁的垫子上。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line. 新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

4 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

5 ordeal   

n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验

参考例句：

• She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
• Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。