丁香花开 Of Lilacs and Springtime

 This past April while visiting my parents on the farm I'd grown up on, I wandered outside to drink in the feel of "home", a comfort I really needed right then. I was used to sunny Southern Californian morning and the brisk early-morning Iowan air nipped at my nose, ears and bare hands.With my father's fleece-lined jacket wrapped around me, and my hands snuggled deep in its well-worn pocket I meandered¹ around the spacious² homestead when the unexpected sweet scent³ of lilacs suddenly called to me. Turning toward the bountiful hedge of lilacs in the distance, I spotted⁴ what looked like blooms. I hurried over.The lavender lilacs were indeed in glorious bloom! I pulled a plentiful⁵ clump⁶ to my face and inhaled⁷ the intoxicating⁸ scent, as I had done every springtime throughout my childhood. A warm delight seeped⁹ through my chilled bone and I smiled at the thought that spring had arrived!Strolling back to the house, the promise of springtime—warmth, renewal¹⁰ and beauty—journeyed right along with me.My father sat at the kitchen table, poring over the morning market reports."It's spring! The lilacs are in bloom!" I joyously¹¹ announced."Lilacs in bloom or not, it isn't spring until winter is gone," he contradicted. "We'll get a bit of cold weather yet.

刚刚过去的那个四月，我回到我在那长大的农场探望我的父母。我在屋外漫步，沉浸在“家”的舒适感觉中——当时我真的很需要家的慰藉。我习惯了加利福尼亚州南部那阳光明媚的早晨，艾奥瓦州清晨凛冽的空气使我的鼻子、耳朵和没戴手套的双手感到一阵阵冰冷的刺痛。我穿着父亲的一件羊毛衬里的夹克，把它裹得紧紧的，然后把手深深插进它那残破的口袋里，漫步在广袤的农场上。这时，一阵紫丁花香意外地扑鼻而来。我转过头去，看到远处围栏边一丛丛茂密的紫丁香似乎在怒放。我赶紧跑了过去。淡紫色的丁香花的确在灿烂地怒放着！我拉过一大束，凑到面前，尽情地闻着那令人陶醉的花香——童年的时候，每年春天，我都会这样闻闻紫丁香。一股温暖的喜悦沁润了我冰冷的身骨。想到春天已经来了，我不禁微笑起来。我漫步回家，一路上，春天的征兆——温暖、万物复苏和美丽一直萦绕在我心头。父亲正坐在厨房的餐桌前，出神地看着早晨股市播报。“春天来了！紫丁香花盛开了！”我欢欣雀跃地宣布。“不管紫丁香开不开花，只有冬天过去了，才是春天，”父亲反驳说，“寒冷的天气还要持续一段时间呢。”

But my heart refused to let the optimism that the lilacs had brought to me fade. Immediately, I recalled the card my mother had sent me just that past week—one that had subconsciously¹² inspired this trip home. My mother knew that I was feeling down. On the cover of the card she sent me was a photo of a single flower emerging from a desolate¹³ barren slope of rock. The exquisite¹⁴ flower willed itself to have life, in spite of the conditions around it. Inside were the words "In the midst of winter, I found within me an eternal spring," followed by my mother's words:"Spring has always been your favorite time of year. As alway it's within."These are words that my mother, ever the optimist¹⁵, lives by. Even in the midst of winter, she finds spring."It's pouring rain!" Dad once said."Everything smells so fresh after a rain!" Mom responded."But I'd wanted to get the yards mowed¹⁶ today," he replied, obviously disappointed."We need the rain," she countered. "Now everything will be greener.""But the forecast is rain for the entire day," Dad moaned."Then we should go to the movies this afternoon," Mom smiled."It's so expensive," he retorted."That's precisely¹⁷ why we should go to the matinee," she countered. "Three of the kids can get in free, and it's only half-price for the rest of us."

但我内心深处不愿意让紫丁香刚刚带给我的期待消失。我随即想起上一个星期母亲送给我的一张卡片——正是那张卡片促使我潜意识地作了回家的决定。母亲知道我那时心情不好。她送给我的那张卡片的正面是一张照片，照片上是一朵花，它从一块岩石的荒芜贫瘠的斜面上生长出来。尽管周围的环境十分恶劣，这朵娇嫩的小花却顽强地绽放着生命。卡片里面有一些文字：“在隆冬里，我在内心找到了永恒的春天。”紧接着还有一句母亲写给我的话：“一直以来，春天都是你最喜爱的季节。春天一直都在你心里。”这就是我那永远乐观的母亲的人生信念。即使是在隆冬，她也能找到春天。“下大雨了！”有一次父亲说。“雨后的一切闻起来是那么的清新！”母亲回答说。“可我本来想今天割院子里的草的，”父亲带着很失望的语气说。“我们需要这场雨，”母亲反驳说，“大雨过后一切会变得更青翠。”“但天气预报说，这场雨会下一整天，”父亲抱怨道。“那我们今天下午应该去看电影，”母亲笑着说。“票价太贵了，”父亲反驳道。“那恰恰是我们应该去看下午场的原因，”她回答说，“三个孩子可以免票进场，我们其他人只要半票。”

Recalling this Rockwell scene of a Sunday afternoon when I was twelve, I'm reminded that for my mother torrential rains produced a rainbow, and there was always a pot of gold at the end of it. I love her sense of joy and optimism. And her ever-ready willingness to share it.Throughout my childhood and over the course of my adult year when I met with succes my mother presented me with a bouquet¹⁸ of lilacs. And on the days when the lemons were so bitter they simply couldn't be made into lemonade, no matter how much sugar was added, like the day a good friend passed away; like the day when a long-standing love relationship ended… lilacs arrived from my mother with a note of understanding to match their beauty and sweet fragrance¹⁹."Spring has always been your favorite time of year," she always reminded. "As alway it's within."Even so, it was the lilacs made her words ring true. With the sight and fragrance of that April morning's came the realization²⁰ of why a trip home was necessary. I needed to assuage²¹ my sadnes my feelings of loneliness and melancholy²². I was pining. My dear daughter, now an adult, had moved into a place of her own. She now lives many states and many miles away. While happy for her, I mourn the loss of her nearness…That morning, the sight of the lilacs brought my mother's words back to life. They reminded me that in the midst of an internal winter, a winter that is within, I must recall the beauty of springtime and the scent of the lilacs. So I will not see her as having gone away, but rather as taking part in new and wondrous²³ experiences in a world that has as many springtimes as winters."Dad, the lilacs are in bloom. It's spring!" I assured my father that day."Hmm," he said, glancing at me, his expression skeptical²⁴. Noting my frown, his features softened²⁵. "Of course it's possible that spring has arrived," he placated²⁶, smiling. "After all, like you said, the lilacs are in bloom."Oh, for the ever-renewing beauty of springtime! And the sweet and irrepressible scent of the lilacs to remind us that spring is found within. 

回忆着我12岁那年这个带有洛克威尔画风的周日下午的场景，我想到，对母亲而言，倾盆大雨过后会出现一道彩虹；无论发生什么事，最后都会收获良多。我爱她那积极乐观的心态，爱她总是乐意与他人分享这种乐观心态的品质。在我的童年时期以及我长大以后的日子里，每当我取得成功时，母亲都会给我送上一束紫丁香。而有的时候，比如好友去世，又如长久的爱情告终时，生命会像苦涩的柠檬，无论加多少糖，也调制不成一杯可口的柠檬水……这时，母亲同样会给我送来紫丁香，同时还附上一张与紫丁香的美丽和芬芳相匹配的纸条，上面写满了对我的理解。“春天一直是你最喜爱的季节，”她总是提醒我，“春天一直在你心里。”尽管如此，还是紫丁香让我感到母亲的话是真的。那个四月的早晨盛开的紫丁香和它那扑鼻的芬芳让我意识到，这次回家是必要的。我需要缓解悲伤、缓解我的孤独和忧郁。我在苦苦思念——我亲爱的女儿已经长大成人，搬出去自己住了。她现在住的地方与我相隔千里。我为她感到高兴的同时，也因为她不再在我身边而伤感。那天早晨，看到灿烂盛开着的紫丁香让我又想起了母亲的话。它们提醒我，即便内心处于漫漫寒冬，我也要记起春天的美丽和紫丁香的芬芳。所以，我不再觉得女儿是离我远去——她是步入了一个全新的、即将迎来更多精彩的世界。在那个世界，春天和寒冬一样多。“爸爸，紫丁香开了！春天来了！”那天我很肯定地对父亲说。“嗯，”他应答着，瞥了我一眼，一副怀疑的表情。看到我皱眉，他的表情柔和起来。“当然，有可能春天已经来了，”他微笑着安慰我说，“毕竟，就像你所说的，紫丁香已经盛开了。”啊，让我们为春天那年年回归的美丽欢呼吧！紫丁香那沁人心脾的芳香告诉我们，春天就在我们心里。

1 meandered   

（指溪流、河流等）蜿蜒而流( meander的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A stream meandered towards the sea. 一条小河蜿蜒地流向大海。
• The small river meandered in lazy curves down the centre. 小河缓缓地绕着中心地区迤逦流过。

2 spacious   

adj.广阔的，宽敞的

参考例句：

• Our yard is spacious enough for a swimming pool.我们的院子很宽敞，足够建一座游泳池。
• The room is bright and spacious.这房间很豁亮。

3 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

4 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

5 plentiful   

adj.富裕的，丰富的

参考例句：

• Their family has a plentiful harvest this year.他们家今年又丰收了。
• Rainfall is plentiful in the area.这个地区雨量充足。

6 clump   

n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走

参考例句：

• A stream meandered gently through a clump of trees.一条小溪从树丛中蜿蜒穿过。
• It was as if he had hacked with his thick boots at a clump of bluebells.仿佛他用自己的厚靴子无情地践踏了一丛野风信子。

7 inhaled   

v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. 她合上双眼，深深吸了一口气。
• Janet inhaled sharply when she saw him. 珍妮特看到他时猛地吸了口气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 intoxicating   

a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的

参考例句：

• Power can be intoxicating. 权力能让人得意忘形。
• On summer evenings the flowers gave forth an almost intoxicating scent. 夏日的傍晚，鲜花散发出醉人的芳香。

9 seeped   

v.（液体）渗( seep的过去式和过去分词 )；渗透；渗出；漏出

参考例句：

• The rain seeped through the roof. 雨水透过房顶渗透。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Icy air seeped in through the paper and the room became cold. 寒气透过了糊窗纸。屋里骤然冷起来。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

10 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

11 joyously   

ad.快乐地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She opened the door for me and threw herself in my arms, screaming joyously and demanding that we decorate the tree immediately. 她打开门，直扑我的怀抱，欣喜地喊叫着要马上装饰圣诞树。
• They came running, crying out joyously in trilling girlish voices. 她们边跑边喊，那少女的颤音好不欢快。 来自名作英译部分

12 subconsciously   

ad.下意识地，潜意识地

参考例句：

• In choosing a partner we are subconsciously assessing their evolutionary fitness to be a mother of children or father provider and protector. 在选择伴侣的时候，我们会在潜意识里衡量对方将来是否会是称职的母亲或者父亲，是否会是合格的一家之主。
• Lao Yang thought as he subconsciously tightened his grasp on the rifle. 他下意识地攥紧枪把想。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译

13 desolate   

adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂

参考例句：

• The city was burned into a desolate waste.那座城市被烧成一片废墟。
• We all felt absolutely desolate when she left.她走后，我们都觉得万分孤寂。

14 exquisite   

adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的

参考例句：

• I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我当时正在欣赏镶嵌画的精致做工。
• I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然记得在巴厘岛所经历的那种剧烈的快感。

15 optimist   

n.乐观的人，乐观主义者

参考例句：

• We are optimist and realist.我们是乐观主义者，又是现实主义者。
• Peter,ever the optimist,said things were bound to improve.一向乐观的皮特说，事情必定是会好转的。

16 mowed   

v.刈，割( mow的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The enemy were mowed down with machine-gun fire. 敌人被机枪的火力扫倒。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Men mowed the wide lawns and seeded them. 人们割了大片草地的草，然后在上面播种。 来自辞典例句

17 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

18 bouquet   

n.花束，酒香

参考例句：

• This wine has a rich bouquet.这种葡萄酒有浓郁的香气。
• Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。

19 fragrance   

n.芬芳，香味，香气

参考例句：

• The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。
• The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。

20 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

21 assuage   

v.缓和，减轻，镇定

参考例句：

• The medicine is used to assuage pain.这种药用来止痛。
• Your messages of cheer should assuage her suffering.你带来的这些振奋人心的消息一定能减轻她的痛苦。

22 melancholy   

n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
• He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过，他感到很郁闷。

23 wondrous   

adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地

参考例句：

• The internal structure of the Department is wondrous to behold.看一下国务院的内部结构是很有意思的。
• We were driven across this wondrous vast land of lakes and forests.我们乘车穿越这片有着湖泊及森林的广袤而神奇的土地。

24 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

25 softened   

（使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰

参考例句：

• His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
• The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。

26 placated   

v.安抚，抚慰，使平静( placate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She hardly knew how to answer this, and yet her wrath was not placated. 她几乎不知道该如何来回答他，然而她的怒气并没有气息。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹