Nicanor Parra

Nicanor Parra (September 5, 1914 / Chillán)

Poems by Nicanor Parra : 4 / 7

The Last Toast - Poem by Nicanor Parra

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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.

Nicanor Parra

Poems by Nicanor Parra : 4 / 7

Fabrizio Frosini (5/2/2016 11:57:00 AM)

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. (Report) Reply
Savita Tyagi (1/8/2015 9:12:00 AM)

Raise my glass to the day that never arrives. How beautiful! Loved the play of words! (Report) Reply
Jinal Oswal (12/8/2011 4:40:00 AM)

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 :) (Report) Reply