露易莎·奥尔科特（Louisa May Alcott，1832－1888），美国作家，最著名的作品是《小妇人》一书。她的父亲布郎逊·奥尔科特是一位哲学家、学校改革家和乌托邦主义者。
我的王国
我和你们讲讲小露易莎。她在日记里写诗歌和故事，还很喜欢玩假扮公主的游戏，她的王国就是她自己的思想。每当她有了不善意或不满足的想法时，她就会把它们当成是王国的敌人，然后派出士兵把那些坏念头赶跑；这些士兵就是耐心、责任和爱。玩这个游戏帮助了小露易莎做个好孩子，而且我想这也帮助了她日后成长为一位非常出色的女性。也许你们也想听一首她在14岁时写的诗吧，它会帮助你们像她一样思考。
我拥有一个小小的王国，
思想和感觉在此居住，
我发现要管理好它
是个非常艰巨的任务；
激情诱惑并困扰着我，
任性将引我入歧途，
自私的影子投向
我所有的言行之处。
我该怎样学会管好自己，
成为我应成为的那个小孩，
诚实且勇敢，从善的路上
永不知倦怠？
我该怎样保持阳光般的灵魂
一直照耀生命之旅？
我该怎样校准心灵的音调
整日高歌甜美之曲？
亲爱的父亲，助我以爱
来驱散我的忧虑，
教我靠近你，
近距离感受你的才略，
没有一种诱惑是不可见的，
没有一种忧伤微不足道，
因为你，用无尽的耐心，
平息并慰籍着一切。
我不要任何皇冠，
只要那应得的胜利，
我不要征服什么世界，
除了那心底的唯一。
请指引我，用你温柔的手，
直到我找回，
心底的快乐王国，
并勇于成为它的指挥。
注：选自露易莎·奥尔科特的《生活，信件和日记》（Louisa M. Alcott's Life, Letters, and Journals ）
MY KINGDOM
The little Louisa I told you about, who wrote verses and stories in her diary, used to like to play that she was a princess, and that her kingdom was her own mind. When she had unkind or dissatisfied thoughts, she tried to get rid of them by playing they were enemies of the kingdom; and she drove them out with soldiers; the soldiers were patience, duty, and love. It used to help Louisa to be good to play this, and I think it may have helped make her the splendid woman she was afterward. Maybe you would like to hear a poem she wrote about it, when she was only fourteen years old.1 It will help you, too, to think the same thoughts.
A little kingdom I possess,
Where thoughts and feelings dwell,
And very hard I find the task
Of governing it well;
For passion tempts and troubles me,
A wayward will misleads,
And selfishness its shadow casts
On all my words and deeds.
How can I learn to rule myself,
To be the child I should,
Honest and brave, nor ever tire
Of trying to be good?
How can I keep a sunny soul
To shine along life's way?
How can I tune my little heart
To sweetly sing all day?
Dear Father, help me with the love
That casteth out my fear,
Teach me to lean on thee, and feel
That thou art very near,
That no temptation is unseen,
No childish grief too small,
Since thou, with patience infinite,
Doth soothe and comfort all.
I do not ask for any crown
But that which all may win,
Nor seek to conquer any world,
Except the one within.
Be thou my guide until I find,
Led by a tender hand,
Thy happy kingdom in myself,
And dare to take command.
[1] From Louisa M. Alcott's Life, Letters, and Journals (Little, Brown & Co.). Copyright, 1878, by Louisa M. Alcott. Copyright, 1906, by J. S. P. Alcott.