你的使命

这是英国诗人艾伦·盖茨（Ellen M H Gates，生卒于1835-1920）的诗作。

我们有时甚至很多时候不能站在船上迎风破浪，不能爬山涉水登高远眺，没有足够多的黄金白银去济世、没有勇气奋战疆场马革裹尸英雄一番，但在人生里我们还是有很多可以做的事情，而这些琐碎平凡的事情也许就是我们的使命。

文学作品的翻译本来就难，诗歌的翻译就更是难上加难。以我的秃笔，我是无论如何也不敢亵渎盖茨女士的诗。请大家原谅。如果有能人帮我们翻译，那就太好了。先谢谢了！

Your Mission

         By Ellen M. H. Gates

If You Cannot on the Ocean

Sail Among the Swiftest Fleet,

Rocking on the Highest Billows,

Laughing at the Storms You Meet,

You Can Stand among the Sailors,

Anchored Yet Within the Bay;

You Can Lend a Hand to Help Them,

As They Launch Their Boats Away.

If You Are Too Weak to Journey

Up the Mountain, Steep and High,

You Stand Within the Valley,

While the Multitude Go By.

You Can Chant in Happy Measure,

As They Slowly Pass Along;

Though They May Forget the Singer,

They Will not Forget the Song.

If You Have Not Gold and Silver

Ever Ready to Command,

If You Cannot Toward the Needy,

Reach an Ever-open Hand,

You Can Visit the Afflicted,

O’er the Erring You Can Weep;

You Can Be a True Disciple,

Sitting at the Savior’s Feet.

If You Cannot in the Conflict

Prove Yourself a Soldier True,

If Where the Fire and Smoke Are Thickest

There’s No Work for You to Do,

When the Battle Field Is Silent,

You Can Bear Away the Wounded,

You Can Cover up the Dead.

Do Not Then Stand Idly Waiting

For Some Greater Work to Do;

Fortune Is a Lazy Goddess,

She Will Never Come to You.

Go and Toil in Any Vineyard,

Do Not Fear to Do or Dare;

If You Want a Field of Labor,

You Can Find in Anywhere.