I was tagged by Roxana to "post or write a phrase or words that ring true". This is difficult as my memory is an arch enemy. What rings true now may sound hollow tomorrow especially when it is day time, for day time reflections are different to those at midnight. However, the poem below, called Remorse, is one that I admire and to some extent one that does not usually betray me. I also take this opportunity to play, as Roxana says, this game and tag Atenea, Alok, Marta and the elusively brilliant Decoys to come up with their favourite words, if they will.
I have committed the worst sin of all
That a man can commit. I have not been
Happy. Let the glaciers of oblivion
Drag me and mercilessly let me fall.
My parents bred me and bore me for a higher
Faith in the human game of nights and days;
For earth, for air, for water, and for fire.
I let them down. I wasn't happy. My ways
Have not fulfilled their youthful hope. I gave
My mind to the symmetric stubbornness
Of art, and all its webs of pettiness.
They willed me bravery. I wasn't brave.
It never leaves my side, since I began:
This shadow of having been a brooding man.
Borges, J.L.
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6 comments:
Done :)
(first and most likely only post with an entire translation)
grand poem. What is behind bravery or cowardice Kubla? How does a man become one or another? Are people born with this?
grand poem. What is behind bravery or cowardice Kubla? How does a man become one or another? Are people born with this?
thank you for giving us this poem, Kubla. I didn't know it, and it is such a great one. I can understand why it has not betrayed you, as much as literature can do that.
have been away from the blogworld for some time now. Just saw this, let me think and will write on the blog.
and yes this poem is terrific. thanks for introducing it to us.
K
I don't normally partake of memes, but after finding myself repeatedly blank at what rings true, I might finally admit that I like this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZYugbqI3rQ
In addition, I do appreciate the blog material that finds its way into the decoys, which is why it appears; it will be a shame to see ToX go silent, but sometimes silence is necessary until the need to post returns. As these things are often cyclical, maybe then you will reappear sometime, and later,in a sense, reappear in a decoy. Who knows?
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