Nicanor Parra

Nicanor Parra (September 5, 1914 / Chillán)

#442 on top 500 poets

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

Rita Nofsinger (7/30/2018 9:05:00 AM)

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. (Report) Reply
Ajay Dudani (2/4/2018 7:20:00 AM)

So we are nothing (Report) Reply
Joyce (11/15/2017 9:51:00 PM)

It was nformative and amusing. More of this. (Report) Reply
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