MY SOUL HAS A HAT
I loved this beautiful poem written by Mario de Andrade sent by Suriyakanthie Amarasekera for the blog,
and had no hesitation in publishing it.
Mario de Andrade (San Paolo 1893-1945) was a Poet,
novelist, essayist and musicologist. He virtually created modern Brazilian
poetry with the publication of his Paulicéia Desvairada (Hallucinated City) in
1922. He has had an enormous influence on modern Brazilian literature, and as a
scholar and essayist—he was a pioneer of the field of ethnomusicology—his
influence has reached far beyond Brazil.*
I counted my years, and realised that I
have less time to live by,
than I have lived so far.
I feel like a child who won a pack of
candies:
at first he ate them with pleasure, But when he realized that there
was little left,
he began to taste them intensely.
I have no time for endless meetings
where the statutes, rules, procedures
and internal regulations are discussed knowing that nothing will be
done.
despite their chronological age, have not grown up.
My time is too short: I
want the essence, my spirit is in a hurry.
I do not have much candy in the package anymore.
I want to live next to
humans, very realistic people
who know how to laugh at their mistakes,
Who are not inflated by their own triumphs
and who take responsibility for their actions.
In this way, human dignity is defended and we live in truth and
honesty.
It is the essentials that make life
useful.
I want to surround myself with people
who know how to touch the hearts of those whom hard strokes of life
have learned to grow, with sweet touches of the soul.
Yes, I'm in a hurry.
I'm in a hurry to live with the intensity that only maturity can give.
I do not intend to waste any of the remaining desserts.
I am sure they will be exquisite, much more than those eaten so far.
My goal is to reach
the end satisfied
and at peace with my loved ones and my conscience.
We have two lives
and the second begins when you realise you only have one
Ref:* (Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A1rio_de_Andrade)
Beautifully written reminder for all of us to reflect on how we should spend the remainder of our lives. I have not read his poetry or prose before but he is clearly a deep thinker. Thanks, Suri for sending this.
ReplyDeleteDear Suri
ReplyDeleteI have always looked for a philosophy or what is euphemistically called the TRUTH since my teenage years. What I have finally found is that it is not concentrated in one location but incorporated into many religions, philosophies, prose and poetry written by many who have passed this way before. It is for me to select what is relevant for me.
Suri’s selection so brilliantly written with skill and thoughtfulness is most relevant for my stage of life. Thank you for sharing.
I love this phrase-"We have two lives and the second begins when you realise you only have one" and "I want to live next to humans, very realistic people who know how to laugh at their mistakes, Who are not inflated by their own triumphs,
Deleteand who take responsibility for their actions.
As for the TRUTH, a helpful view is that all religion have similar goals and it is not necessary to don the “club shirt” and walk the path as the path is open to others who may choose not to wear it. This may or may not be true but it is certainly an attitude that would be beneficial in a multi-religious Society. The biggest TRUTH is that it will remain a matter of opinion.
Dear Speedy and Nihal so glad you liked the poem . I was so impressed by the clarity and wisdom of the words particularly as all of us are over 3 score years and ten I thought it would be selfish to keep it to myself and felt that it just had to be shared with my friends of a lufe time
DeleteAfter that serious soul searching being a septuagenarian like myself what comes to mind is something more light hearted. Am I seeing the light at the end of the tunnel or is the tunnel at the end of the light. A song sung by that famous crooner Max Bygraves and its lovely lyrics comes to mind:
ReplyDeleteWhen you come to the end of a lollipop,
To the end, to the end, of a lollipop,
When you come to the end of a lollipop,
Plop goes your heart!
Gilly Oh golly, how I love my lolly,
Down to the very last lick,
But when you are through with it, what can you do with it,
All you have left is the stick.
Suru,I have an excellent quote from Erica Jong,
ReplyDelete"You don't get to choose how you are going to die or when.you can only decide how you are going to live now.There are two lives.The lives were learned to live;after that,so how do we get to this second life.Surviving meant being born over and over.Only Buddhism believes in rebirth.
Philosophical thoughts Sumathi. No one knows what happens after death. It will remain speculation till somebody returns after death- then the question is -If he returned, did he actually die! Unless of course somebody in a coffin 10 feet underground is found a bit run down and wasted beside his grave 2 weeks after he was buried saying "where the dickens an I?"
DeleteHell and Heaven are hypothetical destinations after life.I do not know where I am going to end up.My dead body will degrade slowly over the years.Some believe that God created man from mud and end up in the soil after death.God will decide on the day of judgement where the dead ends up,Hell or Heaven.No more rebirth?
ReplyDeleteSuri, as I told you when you first sent it to me, I was immediately impressed by his writing because it is universally applicable, unlike many religiously slanted sayings which may be true to the believer but not appeal to others with conflicting ideas. Beliefs will remain personal and have appeal to those who have them but believers would be well advised to be humble and recognise them as such. What Mario states and what Jong (Sumathi quote) has universal "common sense" appeal. We are all trying to make sense of our world, allay our anxieties and anticipate a future with as less worries as possible.
ReplyDeleteSuri, thank you for sharing this wise and beautiful poem with us. as you can see, it has already generated a philosophical discussion! I try to focus on the here and now and not worry too much about where I will end up. All I know is that regardless of where I end up, I will meet some familiar faces there!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree with you more Srianee -"try to focus on the here and now and not worry too much about where I will end up". Absolutely!
DeleteSrianne,if it is going to be heavon,we all will miss the service to humanity.In heaven,men may get 7 virgins and I have no idea whether women will stand a chance.
DeleteHa ha Sumathi, do you think there will be any virgins left, who will end up in heaven?!!!
DeleteGood God is supposed to provide them to those men who fear and obey Him.Is not the Christian God.You must know who that God is,by now.
DeleteHi Suri, Mahendra, and each and every one of our mates who have written comments above! This poem is one of the best or indeed the best one I have ever read in that it speaks so much truth applicable to us septuagenarians and like me, octogenarians. I was practically dazzled by each and every line. How true, how relevant to us all,is what he has written! And Suri, you really have chosen a gem for us all. I find the comments are as remarkable as the poem itself. I found myself reading each and every one of them. Now I have to go away and reflect on the truth of what Mario Andrade says. Once again, Sui, you have really sent in a pearl, a gem a diamond even! Thanks a lot!
ReplyDeleteHi Suri
ReplyDeleteA beautiful poem,excellent choice, very relevant at our stage in life and how true.
Zita: it looks as if I am copying some of your comments.They were independently derived.The only way is Essex!
You are a great writer, Harischandra!(I prefer that name which is beautiful, you know what I mean). Zita writes little,silly things and you write about life's truths, and you put in beautiful words things that happened decades ago. When I read articles authored by you, I approach them with great respect, print them out and sit down to read and take in what you are saying. I know that others look forward to your 'presentations' too!
DeleteRich& famous live in Sussex,I had my holidays in Wessex, like to meet a girl from Essex.
ReplyDeleteSuri
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for sharing this great poem with us.
As we have reached almost the end of our journey we all like to be satisfied and have peace of mind as the Poet says. Chira