24.12.06
Poemas favoritos II
Favorite poems II
Bem no Fundo
Paulo Leminski
no fundo, no fundo,
bem lá no fundo,
a gente gostaria
de ver nossos problemas
resolvidos por decreto
a partir desta data,
aquela mágoa sem remédio
é considerada nula
e sobre ela - silêncio perpétuo
extinto por lei todo o remorso
maldito seja quem olhar para trás
lá para trás não há nada,
e nada mais
mas problemas não se resolvem,
problemas têm família grande,
a aos domingos saem todos passear
o problema, sua senhora
e outros pequenos probleminhas
***
The God Abandons Antony
Constantinos Cavafy
(Translated by Lawrence Durrell)
When suddenly at darkest midnight heard,
The invisible company passing, the clear voices,
Ravishing music of invisible choirs -
Your fortunes having failed you now,
Hopes gone aground, a lifetime of desires
Turned into smoke. Ah! do not agonize
At what is past deceiving,
But like a man long since prepared
With courage say your last good-byes
To Alexandria as she is leaving.
Do not be tricked and never say
It was a dream or that your ears misled,
Leave cowards their entreaties and complaints,
Let all such useless hopes as these be shed,
And like a man long since prepared,
Deliberately, with pride, with resignation
Befitting you and worthy of such a city
Turn to the open window and look down
To drink past all deceiving
Your last dark rapture from the mystical throng
And say farewell, farewell to Alexandria leaving.
