Poem
Antero de Quental
DESPONDENCY
Let it go – the bird so cruellyDespoiled of her young and nest. . .
May the infinite air of loneliness
Waft where her broken wings took her.
Let it go – the boat tossed about
On choppy waves amid the blackness
When night rose out of the vast expanses
And gales arrived from the South. . .
Let it go – the soul that laments
The faith and peace and trust it lost –
To that ever still and silent death...
Let it go – the lingering note
Of a final song. . . and the last hope left. . .
And life. . . and love. . . Let life go!
© Translation: 1998, Richard Zenith
Despondency
Despondency
Deixá-la ir, a ave, a quem roubaramNinho e filhos e tudo, sem piedade. . .
Que a leve o ar sem fim da soledade
Onde as asas partidas a levaram. . .
Deixá-la ir a vela, que arrojaram
Os tufões pelo mar, na escuridade,
Quando a noite surgiu da imensidade,
Quando os ventos do Sul se levantaram. . .
Deixá-la ir, a alma lastimosa,
Que perdeu fé e paz e confiança,
À morte queda, à morte silenciosa. . .
Deixá-la ir, a nota desprendida
Dum canto extremo. . . e a última esperança. . .
E a vida. . . e o amor. . . deixá-la ir, a vida!
© 1886, Antero de Quental
From: Sonetos
Publisher: IN-CM, Lisbon
From: Sonetos
Publisher: IN-CM, Lisbon
Poems
Poems of Antero de Quental
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DESPONDENCY
Let it go – the bird so cruellyDespoiled of her young and nest. . .
May the infinite air of loneliness
Waft where her broken wings took her.
Let it go – the boat tossed about
On choppy waves amid the blackness
When night rose out of the vast expanses
And gales arrived from the South. . .
Let it go – the soul that laments
The faith and peace and trust it lost –
To that ever still and silent death...
Let it go – the lingering note
Of a final song. . . and the last hope left. . .
And life. . . and love. . . Let life go!
© 1998, Richard Zenith
From: Sonetos
From: Sonetos
DESPONDENCY
Let it go – the bird so cruellyDespoiled of her young and nest. . .
May the infinite air of loneliness
Waft where her broken wings took her.
Let it go – the boat tossed about
On choppy waves amid the blackness
When night rose out of the vast expanses
And gales arrived from the South. . .
Let it go – the soul that laments
The faith and peace and trust it lost –
To that ever still and silent death...
Let it go – the lingering note
Of a final song. . . and the last hope left. . .
And life. . . and love. . . Let life go!
© 1998, Richard Zenith
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