Sunday 2 January 2011

Not only wine / but its oblivion I pour — Pessoa


Not only wine but its oblivion I pour
In my cup, and I will be happy, because happiness
Is ignorant. Who, remembering
Or foreseeing ever smiled?

Let us with our thinking, obtain not life
But the soul of animals, taking refuge
In the impalpable destiny
Which neither hopes nor remembers.

With mortal hand I raise a fragile cup
Of fleeting wine to my mortal mouth,
Eyes clouded,
Ready to stop seeing.