Un tocco di stile alla tua vita.

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Rubrica di Keiko Davy

好きな詩の紹介

Weekly Topic: My Favorite Poet

Jul 31, 2020


カフェトークの皆さん、こんにちは。タイ在住のバイリンガル講師、Keiko Davyです。今日は今週のコラムのテーマ「好きな詩人」というのに合わせてコラムを書いてみることにしました。

投稿にはVictor HugoのQuoteを使いましたが、だからと言って自分が一番好きな詩人だという訳ではありません。(もちろんLe Miserablesのようにすばらしい作品を書いていますが)好きな詩人がいるというよりは、私にはいくつか好きな詩がありますので、それを紹介したいと思います。読むと元気になるというか、気分がLift upされる感じでしょうか?皆さんはどう思いますか?

一つ目はMarianne Williamson というアメリカ人の作家が書いたものです。もともとはA return to loveという1992年に彼女が書いた本の中に出てくる一節となるのですが、Nelson Mandela が引用したことで知られるようになりました。

"Our deepest fear is not that we are weak. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world ... As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

二つ目はDesiderata (Things Desired) です。アメリカ人のMax Ermannが1920年台に書いたものです。

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

最後はPrayer of St Francis of Assisiです。クリスチャン向けのお祈りということになりますが、私は結構好きです。
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O Divine Master, grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved, as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
And it's in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born to Eternal Life
Amen

This column was published by the author in their personal capacity.
The opinions expressed in this column are the author's own and do not reflect the view of Cafetalk.

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