世界繪本特選 TOP100名著 作者： Shel Silverstein 謝爾 世界繪本特選 TOP100名著 作者： Shel Silverstein 謝爾.希爾弗斯坦 書名： The Missing Piece 失落的一角 譯者： 林良 出版： 自立晚報社文化出版部

作者： Shel Silverstein 謝爾.希爾弗斯坦 書名： The Missing Piece 失落的一角 有的書上都是字，幾乎沒有畫；　有的書上都是畫，沒有什麼字；這本書上既 沒有幾個字，也只有很少的幾筆畫，但它說的更多，說完了每一故事；就像「人」字，雖只二筆，卻是萬物的根 本」。 （史英：人本教育基金會董事） 生命的可能，貴在自我實現；生命的欠缺，是努力的空間。 這本書如此啟示我。　　 （陳來紅：主婦聯盟基金會顧問） 銳與圓，收與放，得與失，能了然於心，必定受益無窮。　　　（葉樹珊：台視早安今天主持人） 這是我讀過最快的一本書，恐怕也是一輩子最忘不了的一本書。書中不只充滿童趣，豐富的生活想像，還有一種淳樸的本質，使我不會有知識的負擔。　　　　　 （劉克襄：自然寫作家）

The piece about “imperfectness” and “satisfaction”

He’s missing a piece. He’s very sad.

He set off to find the missing piece.

He rolled along, singing “Oh, I am going to look for my missing piece, I am going to look for my missing piece, Ah ha ha, on the way, to look for my missing piece”

Sometimes, he has to bear the heat of the sun.

Following that, that icy cold rain falls

Sometimes the snow freezes him up. Then the sun will come out to give him warmth

Because he is missing a piece, so he can’t roll very fast. Thus, he could stop and chat with the worm.

Or smell the flowers

Sometimes he overtakes the beetle.

Sometimes the beetle will also overtake him

This kind of moment is the happiest for him.

He continued on across the ocean “Oh, I am looking for my missing piece Across the land and seas Not afraid of the long road ahead, I am looking for my missing piece.”

Through the swamps and scrubs,

Up the mountains,

And down the mountains.

Till one day, he saw it and sang “I have found my missing piece, I have found my missing piece, Not afraid of the long road ahead, I have found…” “Hold on”, the piece said “Don’t sing that “not afraid of the long road ahead…..” yet”

“I am not your missing piece. I am not anyone’s piece. I am my own piece. Even if I am someone’s missing piece, I believe it would not be yours.”

“Orh.” He sadly said. “Sorry to disturb you.” And he went on his way again.

He then found another piece.

But this piece was too small.

This one was too big.

This one is slightly too sharp.

This one was too squarish.

But he did not grab hold of it tight. There was once when he found a piece with the perfect fit.

And he dropped it.

There was another time when he grabbed hold of it too tight...

…and broke it.

He went along his way again.

Met with some dangers,

Fell into a pit,

Crashed into a stone wall.

One day, he met another piece which seemed to be a perfect fit.

“Hi!” He said. “Hi!” the piece said. “Are you anyone’s missing piece?” “No, I am not.” “Then are you your own piece?” “I can be someone’s piece, as well as, be my own piece” “You probably would not like to be my missing piece.” “Not really.” “Maybe we are not suitable.” “Don’t say that…”

“How is it?” “Feels good.”

Very suitable! A perfect fit! Finally found it! Finally found it!

He rolled along, because he does not miss a piece anymore, he rolled faster and faster, faster then never before. So fast that he could not stop to chat with the little worm.

He can’t stop to smell the flowers too.

So fast that the butterfly is not able to rest on him.

But he could sing his happy song. He finally can sing : “I found my missing piece.”

He started to sing: “Ummm…Bleh…Hmmm, Ummm…Bleh…Hmmm, Hmmp…Ummp…” Oh god, He does not miss a piece now, but he cannot sing.

“I know why.” He thought. “There’s a reason here.” He stopped.

And put down his missing piece,

And left.

He moved along, and sang softly:

“Oh, I am looking for my missing piece Ah ha ha, on the road To look for my missing piece.”

關於成熟...... Regarding Maturity…

在一個講究包裝的社會裡，我們常禁不住羨慕別人光鮮華麗的外表，而對自己的欠缺耿耿於懷。 In this society that emphasizes on the packaging, we would sometimes inevitably envy other people’s good looks, and lament about our own imperfection.

但就我多年觀察，我發現沒有一個人的生命是完整無缺的，每個人都少了一樣東西。 有人夫妻恩愛、月入數十萬，卻是有嚴重的不孕症； 有人才貌雙全、能幹多金，情字路上卻是坎坷難行； 有人家財萬貫，卻是子孫不孝； 有人看似好命，卻是一輩子腦袋空空。 But in my years of experience, I have discovered that there’s no one life that is perfect, everyone has a lack of something. Some couples are very loving, monthly salary of 10K+, but they could have problems bearing child. Some people have the looks and talent, but could have a rough time in relationships. Some people have lots of money, but they don’t have filial children. Some people look to have a good life, but their brain could be empty all their life.

每個人的生命，都被上蒼劃上了一道缺口，你不想要它，它卻如影隨形。 以前我也痛恨我人生中的缺失， 但現在我卻能寬心接受. Everyone’s life has been designed with imperfections, you may not want it, but it will follow you. I used to hate my imperfection, but now I have learnt to accept it with open arms

因為我體認到生命中的缺口，彷若我們背上的一根刺， 時時提醒我們謙卑，要懂得憐恤。 Because I understand that the flaw in life is like a spike on our backs, reminding us to be humble and to emphatise with others.

若沒有苦難，我們會驕傲，沒有滄桑，我們不會以同理心去安慰不幸的人。 我也相信，人生不要太圓滿，有個缺口讓福氣流向別人是很美的一件事， If there are no hardships, we will be complacent. If there is no depression, we cannot emphatise and console those who are less fortunate. I also believe that life cannot be too perfect, having a crack to let happiness flow to others is a beautiful thing.

你不需擁有全部的東西， 若你樣樣俱全，別人吃什麼呢？ 也體認到每個生命都有欠缺， 我也不會再去與人作無謂的比較了， 反而更能珍惜自己所擁有的一切。 You don’t have to have everything. If you have everything, what’s left for the others? Also recognise that life has flaws, that I will not compare myself with others, instead cherish what you already have.

所以，不要再去羨慕別人如何如何，好好數算上天給你的恩典，你會發現你所擁有的絕對比沒有的要多出許多. So, don’t go around envying others, count the blessings that Heaven has bestowed upon you, you will find that there are more things that you have than things that you don’t have

而缺失的那一部分，雖不可愛，卻也是你生命的一部分，接受它且善待它，你的人生會快樂豁達許多。 And what you do not have, although not lovable, is very much part of your life, accept and appreciate it, and your life will be much happier.

你願意受盡一生痛苦而凝結一粒珍珠......還是不要珍珠， 寧願舒舒服服的活著？! 如果你是一個蚌， 你願意受盡一生痛苦而凝結一粒珍珠......還是不要珍珠， 寧願舒舒服服的活著？! If you are a clam, Do you want to bear all the pains to produce a pearl…..or you do not want the pearl and choose to live comfortably?!

你突然發覺你已被關進捕鼠籠而你前面有一塊香噴噴的蛋糕 ， 這時，你究竟是吃還是不吃呢？！ 如果你是一隻老鼠， 你突然發覺你已被關進捕鼠籠而你前面有一塊香噴噴的蛋糕 ， 這時，你究竟是吃還是不吃呢？！ If you are a mouse, you suddenly find yourself captured in a rat trap and in front of you is a piece of delicious cake, do you eat the cake or not?!

早期的撲滿都是陶器，一旦存滿了錢，就要被人敲碎...…….. 如果有這麼一隻撲滿，一直沒有錢投進來，一直瓦全到今天， 他就成了貴重的古董...………………………………………….. 你願意做哪一種撲滿？! Early piggy banks are made of clay, once it is filled, it has to be broken… If there is such a piggy bank, no money has been put into it, until today and it has become a very priceless antique….. Which piggy bank do you wish to be?!

你每想到一次就記下你的答案...... 直到有一天你的答案不再變動...... 那就是你成熟了！ Everytime you think of it, note down your answers… Until a day when your answers does not change…. Then you are mature!

找一個懂妳的人...…………………. 也期許自己做一個懂他的人…………. Find someone who understands you… and also hope you are that someone who understands him/her...

聰明的人喜歡猜心...…………………. 雖然每次都猜對了卻失去了自己的心………. The intelligent like to guess people’s heart… Although everytime they get it right, they will lose their own...

雖然每次都被笑了卻得到了別人的心………… 傻氣的人喜歡給心...…………………….. 雖然每次都被笑了卻得到了別人的心………… The innocent and naive love to give their hearts… Although they get laughed at everytime but they would have won over other people’s hearts...

魚說：你看不見我的淚水；因為我在水中....………. 水說：我能感覺到妳的淚；只因妳在我的心中......... The fish said: I can’t see my tears because I am in the water... The water said: I can feel your tears because you are in my heart...