The Art of Disappearing

圖片來源

The Art of Disappearing

by Naomi Shihab Nye

When they say Don't I know you?

say no.

When they invite you to the party

remember what parties are like

before answering.

...

If they say We should get together

say Why?

It is not that you don't love them anymore.

You're trying to remember something

too important to forget.

Trees.  The monastery bell at twilight.

Tell them you have a new project.

It will never be finished.

When someone recognizes you in a grocery store

nod briefly and become a cabbage.

When someone you haven't seen in ten years

appears at the door,

don't start singing him all your new songs.

You will never catch up.

Walk around feeling like a leaf.

Know you could tumble any second.

Then decide what to do with your time

上面是今天在Michelle老師的部落格看到美國詩人Naomi Shihab Nye的一首詩，讀完之後有深深的感慨。 



人生真的就像一片樹上的葉子，沒有人知道什麼時候會悄然落下，時間是如此珍貴而無法掌握，但我們卻花了許多時間在不值得的事物上。既然討厭辦公室的某些人，為什麼還要浪費一個晚上的珍貴時間和其他人躲在餐廳罵他們？既然知道電視的節目沒有任何意義，為什麼吃飽了不能和家人散散步而要一晚呆坐在電視前面？



想要抓住一切的我們卻從來沒有思考過，在我們這短暫而不知何時會結束的人生中，那些是真正值得珍惜的時光？下次在答應一個其實沒有意義的邀約或是安排更多工作的時候，想想是不是有些其實更重要而我們從來未曾付出真心的事物？在那些不必要的場合消失的藝術，是我們這些已經習慣於把一切都量化、都記在智慧型手機裏的現代人應該好好學習的。