听播客学英语 197 给我一个简单的生活

 　　It is a long time since we had any poetry on these podcasts. My friend Margaret has just written a light-hearted poem about, well, about how she wants a simple life without the things that make the modern world so stressful.

　　Before I read the poem, I need to explain a few words in it. If you do not have a job, you can go to a Job Centre, where you can find details of jobs that are available, and where you may be able to get financial help and help with training for a new job.

　　Self- Assembly kits¹ are like the furniture from IKEA that we talked about a few weeks ago, which comes in a flat cardboard box, and you have to assemble it yourself.

　　And 0870 telephone numbers are phone numbers that begin with 0870. They are often used by big companies for their call centres. Generally, when you phone you get a recorded message asking you to press 1 for customer service, 2 for details of your account and so on. You then wait for ages while the telephone plays banal² music to you, interrupted from time to time by a message saying that you are in a queue and that someone (usually called “a customer service advisor” or some dreadful modern name like that) will talk to you as soon as possible. 0870 telephone numbers are a major cause of stress in modern Britain! Well, I think so, anyway.

　　Here is Margaret’s poem She has called it Phoo to New.

　　Give me a simple life

　　With a book by the fire

　　A stool to rest my feet on

　　And a cushion for my head.

　　Free me from mobiles, emails, ipods,

　　Phones, computers, cars, pollution,

　　Hospitals, Work or Job Centres,

　　Motorbikes or cars with screaming sirens.

　　Give me a simple life

　　With a book by the fire

　　A stool to rest my feet on

　　And a cushion for my head.

　　Don’t throw at me Self-Assembly kits

　　Where I have to hunt for all the bits

　　Don’t tell me I can order online

　　Or phone 0870 and wait in a queue.

　　Give me a simple life

　　With a book by the fire

　　A stool to rest my feet on

　　And a cushion for my head!

1 kits   

衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件

参考例句：

• Keep your kits closed and locked when not in use. 不用的话把你的装备都锁好放好。
• Gifts Articles, Toy and Games, Wooden Toys, Puzzles, Craft Kits. 采购产品礼品，玩具和游戏，木制的玩具，智力玩具，手艺装备。

2 banal   

adj.陈腐的，平庸的

参考例句：

• Making banal remarks was one of his bad habits.他的坏习惯之一就是喜欢说些陈词滥调。
• The allegations ranged from the banal to the bizarre.从平淡无奇到离奇百怪的各种说法都有。