I think that from a biological standpoint， human life almost reads like a poem. It has its own rhythm and beat， its internal² cycles of growth and decay. It begins with innocent³ childhood， followed by awkward⁴ adolescence trying awkwardly to adapt itself to mature society， with its young passions and follies， its ideals and ambitions; then it reaches a manhood of intense activities， profiting from experience and learning more about society and human nature; at middle age， there is a slight easing of tension， a mellowing of character like the ripening of fruit or the mellowing of good wine， and the gradual acquiring of a more tolerant， more cynical and at the same time a kindlier view of life; then in the sunset of our life， the en- docrine glands decrease their activity， and if we have a true philosophy of old age and have ordered our life pattern according to it， it is for us the age of peace and security and leisure and contentment; finally， life flickers out and one goes into eternal⁵ sleep， never to wake up again. One should be able to sense the beauty of this rhythm of life， to appreciate， as we do in grand symphonies， its main theme， its strains of conflict and the final resolution.

No one can say that a life with childhood， manhood and old age is not a beautiful arrangement; the day has its morning， noon and sunset， and the year has its seasons， and it is good that it is so. There is no good or bad in life， except what is good according to its own season. And if we take this biological view of life and try to live according to the seasons， no one but a conceited fool or an impossible idealist can deny that human life can be lived like a poem.

注釋：

1 uniqueadj. 惟一的，獨(dú)特的

2 internal adj．內(nèi)部的．內(nèi)在的

3 innocent adj．天真無邪的

4 awkward adj．笨拙的

5 eternal adj．永恒的，不變的

從生物學(xué)角度來看，我認(rèn)為人生讀起來就像一首詩(shī)。人生有著獨(dú)特的韻律和節(jié)奏，有著內(nèi)在的發(fā)展和衰退周期。人生始于天真無邪的童年時(shí)代，隨之而來的是不知所措的少年時(shí)代，笨手笨腳地努力適應(yīng)成熟的社會(huì)。在此期間，既有青春的激情和傻氣，也有人生的理想和野心。緊接著就到了緊張激烈的成年時(shí)期，人們從經(jīng)驗(yàn)中受益，更多地了解社會(huì)和人性。人值中年，可以稍事放松，此時(shí)性格趨于成熟，如同成熟的果實(shí)和甘醇的美酒。人生態(tài)度逐漸變得更加寬容，更加冷峻，同時(shí)也更加仁慈。再往后，就到了人生的夕陽(yáng)時(shí)代。此時(shí)，內(nèi)分泌腺活動(dòng)減弱。假如我們真正滲透老年哲學(xué)，并據(jù)此安排我們的生活模式，晚年對(duì)我們來說就是平和、安定、閑適、滿足的歲月。最后，生命之火熄滅，一個(gè)人永遠(yuǎn)睡去，不再醒來。我們應(yīng)當(dāng)能夠感受人生節(jié)奏之美，如同欣賞宏大的交響樂，我們能夠欣賞它的主題，它的沖突段以及最后的和聲。

誰(shuí)也不能否認(rèn)，由童年、成年和晚年構(gòu)成的人生是一種絕妙的安排。一日之中有著清晨、正午和日落，一年之中有四季。大自然如此安排自有其道理。人生并無好壞之分，只有看能否適應(yīng)“季節(jié)”才可以品評(píng)優(yōu)劣。假如我們能從這種生物學(xué)角度來看待人生，盡量順時(shí)而生，適季而活，除了傲慢自大的傻瓜和無可救藥的理想主義者，誰(shuí)又能否認(rèn)，人生可以像一首詩(shī)呢?