To die
To die with body and soul.
Completely.
To die without leaving the sad remains of the flesh,
the bloodless wax mask,
surrounded by flowers,
which will rot – happy! – some day
soaked in tears
bloomed not as much of nostalgia, as of fear of death.
To die without leaving by chance, a wandering soul…
on the way to heaven?
But which heaven can satisfy your heavenly dreams?
To die without leaving a wrinkle, a stripe, a shadow,
a memory of a shadow
in any heart, in any thought, in any epidermis.
To die completely
that one day when they read your name on paper
they ask: Who was he?
To die even more completely
without even leaving this name
(Manuel Bandeira)
More Poetry from Manuel Bandeira:
Manuel Bandeira Poems based on Topics: Death & Dying, Flowers, Memory, Mind, Thought & Thinking, Sadness, Chance, Happiness, Heaven, Nostalgia, Soul- Carlos Drummond de Andrade (with English translation) (Manuel Bandeira Poems)
- Vou-me embora pra Pas (Manuel Bandeira Poems)
- Brazilian Tragedy (Manuel Bandeira Poems)
- Pas (Manuel Bandeira Poems)
- Poetica (Manuel Bandeira Poems)
- Poetica (English) (Manuel Bandeira Poems)
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