Lydia

Μην κάνεις να χτίσεις στον χώρο 

που υποθέτεις πως βρίσκεται

Το μέλλον, Λύντια,

και μην υπόσχεσαι στον εαυτό σου

Το αύριο. Πάψε να ελπίζεις

και γίνου αυτή που είσαι

Σήμερα. Εσύ, μονάχα, είσαι η ζωή σου.

Μην σχεδιάζεις το πεπρωμένο σου,

γιατί δεν είσαι μέλλον.

Μεταξύ της κούπας πού άδειασες

και της ίδιας αυτής πού

Ξαναγέμισες, ποιός ξέρει αν στην τύχη σου

Δεν παρεμβάλλεται η άβυσσος;

............................

Não queiras, Lídia, edificar no ‘spaço
Que figuras futuro, ou prometer-te
Amanhã. Cumpre-te hoje, não ‘sperando.
Tu mesma és tua vida.
Não te destines, que não és futura.
Quem sabe se, entre a taça que esvazias,
E ela de novo enchida, não te a sorte
Interpõe o abismo?

..........................

Don’t try to build in the space you suppose
Is future, Lydia, and don’t promise yourself
Tomorrow. Quit hoping and be who you are
Today. You alone are your life.
Don’t plot your destiny, for you are not future.
Between the cup you empty and the same cup
Refilled, who knows whether your fortune
Won’t interpose the abyss?

Fernando Pessoa