せっかくなら前向きな波及効果

高校の英語部に所属する１年生が、ある英語の詞を紹介してくれました。

A pebble　～ James W. Foley ～

Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone;

But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,

Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea.

And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.

 

Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget,

But there’s little waves a-flowing, and there’s ripples circling yet,

And those little waves a-flowing to a great big wave have grown;

You’ve disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.

 

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute it is gone;

But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.

They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the center as they go,

And there is no way to stop them, once you’ve started them to flow.

 

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute you forget;

But there’s little waves a-flowing, and there’s ripples circling yet,

And perhaps in some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you’ve stirred,

And disturbed a life was happy ere you dropped that unkind word.

 

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash and it is gone;

But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,

Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave

Till you wouldn’t believe the volume of the one kind word you gave.

 

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;

But there’s gladness still a-swelling, and there’s joy circling yet,

And you’ve rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard

Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.

LONGMAN より

「自分の投げた小石がさざ波を作る。そのさざ波はずっと広がり続けるが、小石を投げた本人はそのことすら忘れてしまっている。何も小石に限ったことではなく、言葉も同じ効果を持っている。中傷的な言葉は、発した本人が知らないところで人を傷つけ、追い詰める。ならば、前向きな言葉を発していこう」

要約すればこんな感じでしょうか・・・。

 

ちょうどryuchellさんの自死のニュースと同じ日にこの詩を紹介してもらったのはたまたまの偶然だったのか？

SNS上の誹謗中傷的な発言に限ったことではなく、教育に携わる者として、生徒たちが前向きになれる言葉をこれからも発し続けなければならないと、強く感じさせられた詩です。