The Soul selects her own Society (Emily Dickinson)

Autonomy

Can the soul call the shots?

Is it possible for the soul to be its own boss, impervious to outside vibes? Do we get to pick?

My worth

Does my worth depend on others singing my praises? Where do I even find my value? Does it have to sync up with the world's standards?

Being alone

Is being alone a good or bad thing?

Should we embrace solitude like Dickinson did? When no amount of fame or fortune can throw us off course, it's not the world ditching us; it's us giving the world the slip.

Online bullying

After scrolling through stuff about online bullying, it reminded me of Emily Dickinson's poem. Maybe, we get to curate our own crew. For those comments that mess with our vibe and bring on the blues, just slam that door shut."

自主性

靈魂是否有自主性？

靈魂是否可以不受外在影響？我們是否可以選擇？

價值

是因為其他人稱讚我，我才有價值嗎？我的價值來源於何？一定要和普世社會價值觀一致嗎？

孤獨

孤獨是正面還是負面的詞？

我們要像是狄金森一樣擁抱孤獨嗎？任何名利都無法影響自己，不是世界丟棄了我，而是我遺棄了世界。

網路霸凌

看完有關網路霸凌的文章之後，我想起了Emily Dickinson的這首詩。或許，我們可以selects our own Society。對於其他會影響我們心情，令我們致鬱的留言，Just shuts the Door

Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

詩

The Soul selects her own Society

Emily Dickinson (1830 –1886)

The Soul selects her own Society —

靈魂有自主性，會選擇她自己想要的社群團體

Then — shuts the Door —

然後─關上門─

To her divine Majority —

她神聖孤傲的靈魂

Present no more —

不再容許任何人的干涉

Unmoved — she notes the Chariots — pausing —

堅如磐石─她留意到馬車到來─停頓

At her low Gate —

在她低矮的門前

Unmoved — an Emperor be kneeling

不動如山─即使是世界上最尊貴之人的膝蓋

Upon her Mat —

跪在墊子之上─

I've known her — from an ample nation —

我早就知道─她的胸懷廣闊無比

Choose One —

選擇其一

Then — close the Valves of her attention —

然後─豎立起防火牆，關閉心中的活門

Like Stone —

就像石頭─固若金湯

作者：Emily Dickinson

翻譯：清月

詩人

我的大學女老師，很喜歡這位詩人。在上課的時候介紹了她的生平，嚮往的模樣令我印象深刻。她和我們說了滿多Emily Dickinson的詩──那是我第一次接觸這位詩人。

「老師這麼喜歡她，她應該很厲害吧！」

Emily Dickinson Wikipedia

Emily Dickinson Poetry Foundation

其他

P.S. 我看到unmoved就想到堅如磐石，可能是因為最近一下班，就看到我家寶貝在玩原神，導致我老是聽到鍾離的原神技能音效「堅如磐石」 (๑•̀ω•́)ノ