The Last Toast Poem by Nicanor Parra

The Last Toast

Rating: 3.4


Whether we like it or not,
We have only three choices:
Yesterday, today and tomorrow.

And not even three
Because as the philosopher says
Yesterday is yesterday
It belongs to us only in memory:
From the rose already plucked
No more petals can be drawn.

The cards to play
Are only two:
The present and the future.

And there aren't even two
Because it's a known fact
The present doesn't exist
Except as it edges past
And is consumed...,
like youth.

In the end
We are only left with tomorrow.
I raise my glass
To the day that never arrives.

But that is all
we have at our disposal.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Fabrizio Frosini 02 May 2016

Spanish text: __________ ÚLTIMO BRINDIS Lo queramos o no Sólo tenemos tres alternativas: El ayer, el presente y el mañana. Y ni siquiera tres Porque como dice el filósofo El ayer es ayer Nos pertenece sólo en el recuerdo: A la rosa que ya se deshojó No se le puede sacar otro pétalo. Las cartas por jugar Son solamente dos: El presente y el día de mañana. Y ni siquiera dos Porque es un hecho bien establecido Que el presente no existe Sino en la medida en que se hace pasado Y ya pasó..., como la juventud. En resumidas cuentas Sólo nos va quedando el mañana: Yo levanto mi copa Por ese día que no llega nunca Pero que es lo único De lo que realmente disponemos.

21 0 Reply
Jinal Oswal 08 December 2011

Amazing flow of words, wonderfully explained life.. From the rose already plucked No more petals can be drawn. So true, why cry over the spilt milk? ? Live life to the fullest... I liked it :)

1 1 Reply
Savita Tyagi 08 January 2015

Raise my glass to the day that never arrives. How beautiful! Loved the play of words!

1 1 Reply
Ajay Dudani 04 February 2018

So we are nothing

1 0 Reply
Rita Nofsinger 30 July 2018

I like the way he starts with three and reduces it to nothing. It is like some of the Bible Proverbs which start small and add more as the author thinks on it.

0 0 Reply
Rose Marie Juan-austin 25 June 2021

A very perceptive write. Thought provoking.

0 0 Reply
Chinedu Dike 25 June 2021

An insightful creation elegantly crafted with artistic brilliance...

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 25 June 2021

Congratulations being chosen as The Modern Poem Of The Day

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 25 June 2021

My delicious toast to this excellent Modern Poem Of The Day. A very thought-provoking poem, BUT life must go on and as human beings we are constantly in a U-Turn.5 Stars Full for this excellent poem.

0 0 Reply
Anil Kumar Panda 25 June 2021

Beautiful poetry. If one understands this truth one will enjoy the life to the fullest.

0 0 Reply
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