·Evan·
How wonderful are islands! Islands in space，like this one I come to，ringed about by miles of water，linked by no bridges，no cables，no telephones. An island from the world and the world’s life. Islands in time，like this short vacation of mine. The past and the future are cut off：only the present remains. One lives like a child or a saint in the immediacy of here and now. Every day，every act，is an island，washed by time and space，and has an island’s completion. People，too，become like islands in such an atmosphere，self-contained，whole and serene；respecting other people’s solitude，not intruding on their shores，standing back in reverence before the miracle of another individual.“No man is an island，”said John Donne. I feel we are all islands—in a common sea.
We are all，in the last analysis，alone. And this basic state of solitude is not something we have any choice about. It is，as the poet Rilke says，“not something that one can take or leave”. We are solitary. We may delude ourselves and act as though this were not so，yes，even to begin by assuming it.“Naturally，”he goes on to say，“we will turn giddy.”
We seem so frightened today of being alone that we never let it happen. Even if family，friends and movies should fail，there is still the radio or television to fill up the void. Women，who used to complain of loneliness，need never be alone any more. We can do our housework with soap-opera heroes at our side. Even day-dreaming was more creative than this；it demanded something of oneself and it fed the inner life. Now instead of planting our solitude with our dream blossoms，we choke the space with continuous music，chatter and companionship to which we do not even listen. It is simply there to fill the vacuum. When the noise stops there is no inner music to take its place. We must relearn to be alone.
人如孤岛
埃 文
岛屿是多么奇妙啊！它处在一望无际之中，四周海水围绕，没有桥梁相通，没有电缆相连，更无电话可打。我来的小岛就是这样一个地方，它远离尘世，不见喧嚣。小岛是时间的孤岛，就像我的这次短期假期。在这里，过去和未来都被隔断，只有现时依然存在。一个人，或是像个孩子，或是像个圣人，现在便实实在在地在这里活着。每一天、每一个动作其实都是一个小岛，经受着时间和空间的冲刷，像小岛一样完美。人在这种环境下也变成了小岛，独立自主，完整安详，尊重他人的孤独，不践踏他人的海岸半步，毕恭毕敬地在他人的奇迹面前靠后站。“没有人会是小岛。”约翰·多恩说过。我却认为每个人都是公共海域的小岛。
归根结底，我们都是孤独的。这种孤独的基本状态由不得我们选择。奥地利诗人里尔克曾经说道：“由不得我们带走或是放弃。”虽然身心孤独，但是我们都欺骗自己，假装事实并非如此。里尔克还说，“我们很自然就会弄得头晕目眩。”
今天的人们都非常害怕孤独，所以极力避免它。当与家人和朋友相处或是看电影都无法消除孤独的时候，我们就用听广播和看电视来填补空白。女人们曾经埋怨孤独，现在想孤独也办不到。她们可以一边做家务一边看肥皂剧。做白日梦都显得更有创造力，它需要人们具有一些东西，而且能够丰富内心生活。我们本该用白日梦的似锦繁花来种下一片孤独，但却用连续不断的音乐、喋喋不休、吵嚷的同伴来把孤独的空间堵死。这其实仅仅是一个填补空缺的问题，一旦喧闹消失，便不再有内心的音乐来填补空缺。我们要重新学会孤独。
实战提升篇
核心单词
saint [seint] n.圣徒；虔诚的人
reverence [5revErEns] n. 敬爱，崇敬
miracle [5mirEkl] n. 奇迹；奇迹般的人
analysis [E5nAlisis] n. 分析；分解
solitude [5sClitju:d] n. 孤独；寂寞
delude [di5lu:d] v. 欺骗；哄骗
creative [kri(:)5eitiv] adj. 创造的；有创造力
continuous [kEn5tinjuEs] adj. 连续的，不断的
实用句型
Even if family，friends and movies should fail，there is sitll the radio or television to fill up the void. 当与家人和朋友相处或是看电影都无法消除孤独的时候，我们就用听广播和看电视来填补空白。
①even if 即使，在这里引导让步状语从句。
②fill up 装满，被填满，类似的表达还有fill in填写，代替；fill with充满；fill out变丰满，填写等固定搭配。
翻译行不行
1.我在打长途时,电话线突然被切断了。（cut off）
2.他在这个谈判中做中间人。（act as）
3.对她而言，Tom永远无法代替John。（take the place）