The Hill We Climb
When day comes, we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never-ending shade?
The loss we carry. A sea we must wade.
We braved the belly of the beast.
We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace, and the norms and notions of what “just” is isn’t always justice.
And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it.
Somehow we do it.
Somehow we weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished.
We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one.
And, yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine, but that doesn’t mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect.
We are striving to forge our union with purpose.
To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man.
And so we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.
We close the divide because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside.
We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another.
We seek harm to none and harmony for all.
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true.
That even as we grieved, we grew.
That even as we hurt, we hoped.
That even as we tired, we tried.
That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious.
Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again sow division.
ure tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid.
If we’re to live up to our own time, then victory won’t lie in the blade, but in all the bridges we’ve made.
That is the promise to glade, the hill we climb, if only we dare.
It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit.
It’s the past we step into and how we repair it.
We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation, rather than share it.
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.
And this effort very nearly succeeded.
But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated.
In this truth, in this faith we trust, for while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us.
This is the era of just redemption.
We feared at its inception.
We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying hour.
But within it we found the power to author a new chapter, to offer hope and laughter to ourselves.
So, while once we asked, how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe, now we assert, how could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?
We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be: a country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free.
We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation, become the future.
Our blunders become their burdens.
But one thing is certain.
If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our children’s birthright.
So let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left.
Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest, we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one.
We will rise from the golden hills of the West.
We will rise from the windswept Northeast where our forefathers first realized revolution.
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the Midwestern states.
We will rise from the sun-baked South.
We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover.
And every known nook of our nation and every corner called our country, our people diverse and beautiful, will emerge battered and beautiful.
When day comes, we step out of the shade of flame and unafraid.
The new dawn balloons as we free it.
For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.
《我们攀登的山》
-- 阿曼达. 高曼
当白日来临，我们问自己
在这无边的阴影里我们如何找寻光明？
我们承载的损失，
是我们必须跋涉的大海
我们曾经勇敢地面对猛兽
我们知道安静不一定就是和平
公平的规范和概念
不一定都等于正义，
而在我们尚未省察之际，曙光已来临，
不知不觉中我们做到了。
不知不觉中我们经受住考验，见证了
一个国家的不完美
但它并没有破碎。
我们，这个国家和时代的传承者，其中
有一位瘦小的女孩
由单亲妈妈带大的奴隶的后代
也可以梦想成为总统
她自己也惊讶地正在为总统朗诵诗歌。
是的我们离完美还很远
还远不是毫无瑕疵
也并不意味着我们
努力构建的联盟完美无缺
我们努力塑造联盟的目标
是要建造一个国家，它服务于
所有的文化，肤色，个性和身份。
所以让我们抬起双眼，注目我们的前方
而不是挡在我们之间的障碍。
我们消除我们的分歧，因为我们知道，
要把未来放在首位，
我们必须先放下我们的不同。
我们放下我们的武器
为的是向彼此
伸出我们的双手。
我们寻求和睦相处而不是彼此伤害。
最重要的是，让这个星球说这是真的：
即使有过悲伤，我们也在成长
即使受过伤害，仍然心怀希望
即使疲惫不堪，至少我们试过。
我们将战胜一切，永远联结在一起。
不是因为我们永远不会失败，
而是因为我们再也不会播下分裂的种子。
圣经告诉我们的异像是
每个人都应该坐在自己的葡萄树和无花果树下
没有人可以让他们害怕恐惧。
如果我们想不辜负时代
那么胜利就不存在刀刃上
而在于我们所建造的一切桥梁
这就是我们的承诺，只要我们敢，
我们就能开辟一条阳光之道，
通向我们要攀登的山
因为作为美国人，我们继承的不只是一种自豪
也是我们脚下的路
和我们该如何去修复的过去。
我们看见有一股势力
想打碎而不是共享我们的国家
想通过搁置民主摧毁我们的国家
而他们几乎就要得逞了。
但是民主可以延误一时，
却永远不会被打败。
这是我们坚信的真理和信仰，
因为当我们注视未来时，
历史也注视着我们。
这是个公义救赎的时代。
我们开始时惊慌失措。
我们感觉还未准备好来继承
这个如此可怕的时刻。
但是从中我们获得力量
去谱写一个新的篇章。
去带给我们希望和笑声。
所以如果有人问我们，
我们怎么可能胜过灾难？
我们现在却断言，
灾难怎么可能胜过我们？
我们不会倒退回到过去
而是要走向未来
一个伤痕累累但仍保持完整的国家，
友善而勇猛，
热烈而自由。
恐吓不会让我们
回头或者停止。
因为我们知道我们的无为和懈怠
将会遗留给下一代
我们的错误将变成他们的负担。
但是有件事可以肯定：
如果我们的仁慈融合了力量，
力量融合了公理，
那么爱就会成为我们的遗产
改变我们后代天生的权利。
所以让我们在身后留下
一个比我们所继承的更美好的国家
我跳动有力的古铜色胸膛里出来的气息
我们将把这个伤痕累累的世界带进美好的国度。
我们将从布满金矿的西部群山兴起，
我们将从大风吹刮的东北兴起
在那里我们的祖辈实现了第一次的革命，
我们将从湖泊星罗棋布的中西部城市兴起，
我们将从阳光普照的南方兴起。
我们将重建，重新恢复，重归于好
我们国土上已知的每一寸土地，
我们称之为国家的每一个角落，
将涌现出我们的人民，美好且多元，沧桑却美丽。
当白日来临，我们走出阴影，
激情澎湃，无惧无畏
解放黎明，曙光绽放。
因为光永远都存在，
但愿我们勇敢地注视它，
但愿我们勇敢地成为它。
( Phil 试译）
never-ending adjective UK
/?nev.??rend.??/
Something that is never-ending never ends or seems as if it will never end.
永无止境的，没完没了的
Writing a dictionary is a never-ending task. 编写词典是一份永无休止的工作。
shade noun UK
/?e?d/
shade noun (SLIGHT DARKNESS)
slight darkness caused by something blocking the direct light from the sun
阴处;阴凉处
The sun was hot, and there were no trees to offer us shade.太阳火辣辣的，没有树给我们遮阳。
The children played in/under the shade of a large beach umbrella. 孩子们在一把巨大的沙滩遮阳伞下的阴凉处玩耍。
loss noun UK
/l?s/
the fact that you no longer have something or have less of something
丧失，失去，失落
Many parents feel a sense of loss when their children leave home.孩子们离家后许多父母都会有失落感。
He suffered a gradual loss of memory.他的记忆力越来越差了。
There will be substantial job losses if the factory closes down.如果工厂关闭，大批工人将会失业。
He suffered hearing loss from testing aircraft engines.
blood/hair/weight loss 失血／脱发／体重减轻
wade verb UK
/we?d/
to walk through water or other liquid with some effort, because it is deep enough to come quite high up your legs, or thick （在水中）艰难地行进，涉水，蹚
The river was full but we managed to wade across.河里涨满了水，但我们设法蹚了过去。
We waded a shallow river.我们蹚过了一条浅浅的小河。
They had to wade through a swamp.他们不得不艰难地步行穿过沼泽地。
to walk in water that is not very deep
在浅水中蹚水（玩耍）
We rolled up our trousers and waded at the edge of the lake.我们卷起裤脚沿着湖边蹚水而行。
brave verb [ T ] UK
/bre?v/
to deal with an unpleasant or difficult situation
勇敢面对;冒（风险）
Let's brave the snow and go for a walk (= go for a walk even though it is snowing). 我们冒雪去散步好吗？
literary She braved the wrath of her parents by refusing to marry the man they had chosen.她不顾父母的不满，拒绝与他们选中的男人结婚。
put on a brave face
idiom (also put a brave face on it)
to behave as if a problem is not important or does not worry you
强装勇敢；佯作满不在乎
She seems all right but I think she's just putting on a brave face. 她似乎没什么，但我怀疑她只是假装不在乎。
belly noun [ C ] UK
/?bel.i/
the stomach or the front part of the body between your chest and your legs
腹部，胃
He fell asleep with a full belly and a happy heart.他吃饱喝足后心满意足地睡着了。
By the sixth month of pregnancy, Gina's belly had begun to swell. 吉娜已有6个月身孕，肚子开始鼓起来了。
beast noun [ C ] UK
/bi?st/
an animal, especially a large or wild one
（尤指大型或野生的）动物；野兽
a wild beast 野兽
The room wasn't fit for man or beast.这个房间根本没法住。
old-fashioned
an unpleasant, annoying, or cruel person
粗暴（或卑劣、凶残）的人
He was a beast to her throughout their marriage.结婚后，他一直对她很粗暴。
What does the 'beast' symbolize in 'The Hill We Climb'?
In Amanda Gorman's poem 'The Hill We Climb', the 'beast' symbolizes the significant challenges and adversities that the United States has faced and continues to face, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, protests, and social and political issues. By stating that "we've braved the belly of the beast," Gorman acknowledges the country's resilience and determination to overcome these hardships.
norm noun [ Cusually plural ] UK
/n??m/
an accepted standard or a way of behaving or doing things that most people agree with 行为准则;规范
Europe's varied cultural, political and ethical norms欧洲形形色色的文化、政治和道德准则
accepted social norms被认可的社会准则
notion noun [ C or U ] UK
/?n??.??n/
a belief or idea 观念;看法
[ + that ] The show's director rejects the notion that seeing violence on television has a harmful effect on children. 节目制片人们并不认为看到电视上的暴力场景会对孩子们造成不良影响。
I have only a vague notion of what she does for a living. 我不太清楚她靠什么谋生。
weather verb UK
/?wee.?r/
weather verb (DEAL WITH)
to deal successfully with a difficult situation or a problem
平安度过（困境）；经受住
As a small new company they did well to weather the recession. 作为一家新成立的小公司，他们成功地度过了经济衰退期。
successor noun [ C ] UK
/s?k?ses.?r/
someone or something that comes after another person or thing
继任者，接替者;继承人;接替的事物
The university is seeking a successor to its vice chancellor, who retires this spring.大学在寻找一位继任者，接替将于今年春天退休的校长。
This range of computers is very fast, but their successors will be even faster. 这个系列的电脑速度很快，但它的换代产品速度会更快。
polished adjective UK
/?p?l.??t/
polished adjective (CLEAN)
having been polished
磨光的;擦亮的
a highly polished floor 擦得很亮的地板
polished adjective (SKILLED)
A polished person has style and confidence.
优雅而又自信的
He's suave, polished, and charming. 他文雅、自信，富有魅力。
showing great skill
完美的，精良的
The dancers gave a polished performance. 舞蹈演员的表演很精湛。
pristine adjective formal approving
UK
/?pr?s.ti?n/
new or almost new, and in very good condition
崭新的; 状态良好的
pristine new offices 崭新的办公室
Washing machine for sale - only two months old and in pristine condition. 出售洗衣机——只用过两个月，完好如新。
forge verb UK
/f??d?/
verb(COPY)
to make an illegal copy of something in order to deceive 伪造;假冒
a forged passpor t伪造的护照
a forged signature 伪造的签名
A number of forged works of art have been sold as genuine. 一些艺术赝品已被当作真品出售。
forgeverb(CREATE)
to make or produce something, especially with some difficulty
（尤指努力地）制造，生产
The accident forged a close bond between the two families.事故使两个家庭紧密地联系在了一起。
She forged a new career for herself as a singer. 她成了一名歌唱家，为自己开创了一番新事业。
vine noun [ C ] UK
/va?n/
(also grapevine)
the climbing plant that produces grapes as its fruit
葡萄藤
fig noun [ C ] UK
/f?ɡ/
a sweet, soft, purple, or green fruit with many seeds, or a tree on which these grow
无花果; 无花果树
vine and fig tree
在圣经中，葡萄藤和无花果树象征着和平、繁荣和生命的丰富。此外，葡萄藤和无花果树也被视为生命的基本要素之一，象征着丰富和繁荣3。在古代教会中，葡萄园被用来描述精神上的教会，其果实（葡萄）代表慈善的行为。这种象征意义不仅限于圣经文本，它也被用于表达自由的概念，如在Gorman的诗中，葡萄藤象征着丰富的葡萄酒，而无花果树则代表食物，人们自由且有足够的食物和饮料。
在更广泛的文化和历史背景下，葡萄藤和无花果树同样被视为和平与繁荣的象征。
glade noun
/ɡle?d/
a small area of grass without trees in a forest
林中空地
