一个小小的字眼儿

Denver Bloom

At first， it was just a word. A very small word. The word had no worries， no needs and most of all it was quite happy being a small word.

But 1）alas， without meaning to， small things can become great things at the least expected of times. The small word was no exception. Its importance grew. Its fame exceeded its small size. It became the strength on which entire nations rose. The hope which many desperately clung to.

It became an idea.

Now， we all know that among the most dangerous things in the world， nothing was more so than an idea. It was 2）infectious. It was driven. It was nearly impossible to kill. It changed the world around it in ways both amazing and terrifying. The small word soon became something to fear.

It became a threat.

Soon， the entire world fought for power over this small word. People lived and died over the small word. Pulled 3）hither and yon， its existence became the foundation on which innocents were tread upon. Then one day， the unthinkable happened.

It became a 4）pariah.

最初，它只是一个字眼。一个很小的字眼儿。这个字眼没有烦恼，没有需求，最重要的是，它很乐于当一个小小的字眼儿。

但可惜，不经意之间，微小的东西会在毫无防备之下变成“庞然大物”。小字眼也不例外。它的重要性与日俱增，它的名气超越了它瘦小的外形。它变成整个国家崛起的动力，变成了很多人想拼命抓住的希望。

它变成了一种思想。

众所周知，世界上最危险之物，莫过于思想。它有传染性，驱动性，几乎无法被消灭。它用惊人又恐怖的方式改变周遭的世界。这个小字眼很快变成了可怕的东西。

它变成了一种威胁。

很快，整个世界为争夺这个小字眼身上隐含的力量而陷入战争。人们因这个小字眼或生存或死亡。小字眼被各方拉来扯去，它的存在成为了践踏无辜者的依据。后来有一天，不可思议的事情发生了。

它变成了一个弃儿。

People 5）clamored to be free of its yoke. They fought amid the din and clamor of swords and slogans， and sought to destroy the small word however they could. After a costly battle， the people won. The small word was quickly locked away， never to be free again.

It became a prisoner.

Quietly， the land world recovered. Gardens grew， and streams trickled. Children laughed and played. The sun even peeked through the dark clouds that once fully covered the land. Meanwhile， the word slept in its cage， shedding only silent tears. It curled up into a ball and shut the world out， and wrapped itself with its lost dreams.

One day， someone passed the cage and noticed that the word wasnt there anymore. People looked in the caves， and the dark corners， but it could not be found. After a long search， the people grew tired and gave up. The world was at peace finally and they were content at last. The small word was left alone.

But if you listened to the laughter of the children and the sound of the rivers， and if your face was 6）dappled by the sun in the sky， you might notice the word， wings outstretched in joy， sharing its happiness where ever it went.

It became a butterfly.

The word， its wings made of paper leaves filled with thoughts and ideas， was again free. The word was a place where dreams were kept to be shared with others. A place where magic was alive and lands were revealed. It was a place where time had no meaning and was the place where time passed quietly. It was free to shed its 7）cocoon of anger and fear and sadness. It became just a small word again. Nothing more， and nothing less.

The word was a book.

And it was happy.

人们嚷嚷着要摆脱它的束缚。他们在战争和游行的喧嚣嘈杂中战斗，无论如何也要消灭这个小字眼。付出巨大的代价后，人们赢得了战斗。小字眼很快被锁藏起来，永远不许释放。

它变成了一名囚犯。

不知不觉中，大地回复了平静。花园重现了生机，溪流开始潺潺流淌，孩子们嬉笑玩耍。阳光甚至可以穿透曾经完全笼罩大地的乌云。这个时候，小字眼还在囚笼里沉睡，默默地流泪。它蜷缩成一团，与世隔绝，沉浸在它失去的梦想里。

有一天，有人经过囚笼，发现小字眼不见了。人们搜遍洞穴、阴暗角落，却看不到它的踪影。经过长时间的搜寻，人们累了，放弃了。最后世界恢复了平静，人们很满足。小字眼被人遗忘了。

然而，若是你细听孩子们的笑声和河流的响声，又或是天空高悬的太阳在你脸上留下斑驳的光影时，你也许会留意到这个小字眼。它在欢乐中展开双翼，沿途分享它的快乐。

它变成了一只蝴蝶。

这个字眼已经重获自由，它那由纸页做成的双翅写满了各种想法和念头。这个字眼是一处保留梦想并与他人分享的地方。一个魔力焕发，新大陆被发现的地方。一个时间毫无意义，只静静流逝的地方。小字眼破茧而出，蜕去了愤怒、恐惧和悲伤，获得自由。它又变回了一个小字眼。不多，也不少。

这个字眼就是书。

它很幸福。