a lesson of transformation.

一堂改造的課。

Step 1:

第一步：

Write it all down.

全部寫下來。

"Take one memory,

「拿起一塊錢，

explore it like a new land,"

像見到新大陸一般地探索它」，

the visiting poet tells the class.

來訪的詩人在課堂上這麼說。

"Don't leave anything out."

「不要遺漏任何東西。」

Tyler sits in this high school workshop,

泰勒坐在高中的討論會中，

dizzy with where to start.

正不知如何下手。

Memories wander in and out of his heart

記憶在他的思緒中 進進出出

like vagrants searching for home.

像是旅行者在找尋他的住所。

He bends to his desk,

他低下頭，

he writes,

寫道：

"The snow goes black

「當月亮閉上他的眼睛，

when the moon turns its eyes away,

雪地漸漸變得一片漆黑，

all paper is yellow,

紙張泛黃，

all letters spell eviction note,

所有字組成一張逐客令

Mama's lies are footsteps

母親的謊言就像腳印，

too many to count.

數也數不清。

Making excuses on black snow.

在漆黑的雪地上按出一個個藉口。

'I paid the rent,

『我付了房租，

this is your room forever, baby.

這永遠是你的房間，寶貝。

I love you.'

我愛你。』

But, she wouldn't even look at me."

但她甚至不敢看著我。」

Step 2:

第二步：

Read out loud.

大聲唸出來。

As he writes, his lips try on words

當他寫下這段時， 他的唇品嘗著這段文字，

then toss them out like bad tenants.

然後將它們像壞房客般 丟了出來。

He pushes his desk back,

他將桌子推開，

stands.

站了起來。

"Aunt Jocelyn's rice pudding was sweet,

「賈斯琳阿姨的米布丁很可口，

but that's not what I want to write.

但那不是我想寫的。

Have you ever been so cold

你曾經冷到

your hair becomes an icicle?

你的頭髮變成冰柱過嗎？

Your little sister's fear of the dark

而你妹妹對黑暗的恐懼

freezes on her lips

冰凍在她的嘴唇上

like she's kissed the ice tray?

彷彿她親了製冰盒一般？

How hungry have you been?"

你有多飢餓過？」

Step 3:

第三步：

Cut the fat.

去蕪存菁。

Abandon extra words.

丟掉多餘的文字。

His pen becomes a machete,

他的筆變成了一把大砍刀，

slashing ands, thens, becauses.

揮砍著各處的 以及、然後、因為。

Step 4:

第四步：

Read out loud,

再一次，

again.

大聲唸出來。

The 11th grade boy makes sure

這位高二的男孩要確認

Step 3's cuts weren't too deep.

第三步是否砍得太深。

Step 5:

第五步：

Add flava.

加點韻味。

Juice,

活力、

power,

能量、

movement,

生動感、

emotion.

情感。

"Vanilla flavoring is the secret to my aunt's pudding.

「香草調味是阿姨布丁 好吃的秘密。

I kick out a few raisins but leave one or two.

我剔除一些葡萄乾， 只留下幾個。

Life needs some bitter

生命需要一些苦澀

to man up the sweet."

來為甜美加分。」

His hands reach out like shells

他的手如貝類般 伸了出來

to hold our disbelief.

要抓住我們的不信任。

Is this Tyler speaking?

是泰勒在說話嗎？

The one who keeps his eyes on the floor

一直看著地上的他

like they're carrying something heavy?

像是背著重負？

Voice rattles windows.

聲音震動著窗戶。

"I am free now."

「我自由了。」

Body quivers with the pulse of each word.

身體隨著每個字的脈動顫抖著。

"The sun's joy melts snow."

「陽光的笑容融化了雪。」

Fingers trace the curve of his jaw.

手指在他下巴上 揣摩著曲線。

"My aunt's face was warm as a water heater

「當阿姨讓我們進房門的那晚

when she let us in that night."

她的臉就像暖爐一樣溫暖。」

Our boy is done,

我們的主角完成了，

his transformation complete.

完成詩的改造工程。

Step 1: Write it all down.

第一步：全部寫下來。

Step 2: Read out loud.

第二步：大聲唸出來。

Step 3: Cut the fat.

第三步：刪除贅字。

Step 4: Read out loud.

第四步：大聲唸出來。

Step 5: Add flava.

第五步：加點韻味。

Tyler's first poem takes residence in his heart.

泰勒的第一首詩， 銘刻在他的心上。

He flings his arms wide

他伸展並揮舞著他的手臂

like an open door.

像是一扇敞開的門。

Welcome home!

歡迎回家！