Most of us, however, take life for granted. We know that one day we must die, but usually we picture that day as far in the future. When we are in buoyant health, death is all but unimaginable. We seldom think of it. The days stretch out in an endless vista. So we go about our petty tasks, hardly aware of our listless attitude toward life.
...
I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound.
Now and then I have tested my seeing friends to discover what they see. Recently I was visited by a very good friend who had just returned from a long walk in the woods, and I asked her what she had observed. "Nothing in particular," she replied. I might have been incredulous had I not been accustomed to such reposes, for long ago I became convinced that the seeing see little.
How was it possible, I asked myself, to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? I who cannot see find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine. In the spring I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winter's sleep. I feel the delightful, velvety texture of a flower, and discover its remarkable convolutions; and something of the miracle of Nature is revealed to me. Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song. I am delighted to have the cool waters of a brook rush through my open finger. To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug. To me the pageant of seasons is a thrilling and unending drama, the action of which streams through my finger tips.
Excerpt From The Story of My Life
By Helen Keller
［参考译文］
假如给我三天光明
海伦·凯勒
但是，我们大多数人把生活认为是理所当然的。我们知道，某一天我们一定会死，但通常我们把那天想象在遥远的将来。当我们心宽体健时，死亡几乎是不可想象的，我们很少想到它。时日在无穷的展望中延展着，于是我们干着琐碎的事情，几乎意识不到我们对生活的漠然度。
……
我常常想，如果每个人在他成年的早期有一段时间失聪失明，那会是一种幸事，黑暗会使他更珍惜视力，寂静会教导他享受声音。
我曾不时地询问能看见东西的朋友们，以了解他们看到什么。最近，我的一位挚友来看我，她刚从一片森林里散步许久回来，我问她看到了什么，她答道：“没什么特别的。”若不是对这种平静习以为常，我会觉得难以置信，因为很久以来我已确信这种情况：能看得见的人却看不到什么。
我问自己，在林子里散步一小时之久而没有看到任何值得注意的东西，那怎么可能呢？我自己，一个不能看见东西的人，仅仅通过触觉，都发现许许多多令我有兴趣的东西。我感受到一片树叶的完美的对称性。我用手喜爱地抚摸过一株白桦那光滑的树皮，或一棵松树的粗糙树皮。春天，我摸着树干的枝条满怀希望地搜索着嫩芽，那是经过严冬的沉睡后，大自然苏醒的第一个迹象。我抚摸过花朵那令人愉快的天鹅绒般的质地，感觉到它那奇妙的卷曲，一些大自然奇迹就这样展示在我面前。有时，如果幸运，我把手轻轻地放在一棵小树上，还能感受到一只高声歌唱的小鸟的愉快颤抖。我喜欢张开手指，让清凉的溪水从指缝间流过。对我来说，一层茂密的松针叶或一块松软而富弹性的草地比最豪华的波斯地毯更受欢迎。对我来说，四季壮观而华丽的展示是一部令人激动的、无穷无尽的戏剧。这部戏剧的表演，通过我的指尖缓缓流出。
［注释］
take life for granted ：把生命想当然
-buoyant [ˈbɔɪənt] adj. 有浮力的，轻快的 having or marked by buoyancy; lighthearted; gay
-unimaginable [ʌnɪˈmæʤɪnəbl] adj. 想不到的，不可思议的 miraculous
-vista [ˈvɪstə] n. 展望，回想 a broad mental view
-listless [ˈlɪstlɪs] adj. 倦怠的，冷漠的，情绪低落的 lacking energy or disinclined to exert effort; lethargic
-incredulous [ɪnˈkredjʊləs] adj. 怀疑的，不轻信的 skeptical; disbelieving
-symmetry [ˈsɪmɪtrɪ] n. 对称，匀称 proportion
silver birch ：白桦树
-shaggy [ˈʃæɡɪ] adj. 表面粗糙的 having a rough nap or surface
-delightful [dɪˈlaɪtfʊl] adj. 令人愉快的，可喜的 greatly pleasing
-velvety [ˈvelvətɪ] adj. 像天鹅绒的，柔软的 soft and smooth
-remarkable [rɪˈmɑːkəbl] adj. 不平常的，值得注意的，显著的 attracting notice as being unusual or extraordinary
-convolution [ˌkɒnvəˈluːʃən] n. 回旋，盘旋，卷绕 a form that is coiled
-lush [lʌʃ] adj. 葱翠的，豪华的 thriving
-luxurious [lʌɡˈzjʊərɪəs] adj. 奢侈的，豪华的 fond of or given to luxury
-pageant [ˈpæʤənt] n. 露天表演 an elaborate public celebration
-thrilling [ˈθrɪlɪŋ] adj. 令人振奋的 greatly exciting
［作者简介］
海伦·凯勒（Helen Keller, 1880-1968），一个幽闭的盲聋哑世界里的人，毕业于哈佛大学德克利夫学院，撰写了14部著作，并用生命的全部力量处处奔走，筹建慈善机构，为残疾人造福，被美国《时代周刊》评选为20世纪美国十大英雄偶像之一。