35 sonnets pessoa

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35 Sonnets

by Fernando PessoaEdition 1, (November 30, 2006)

I.

Weter !e !rite or s"ea# or do b$t %oo#

We are ever $na""arent. Wat !e are&annot be trans'$sed into !ord or boo#.

$r so$% 'rom $s is in'inite%y 'ar.

o!ever m$* !e +ive o$r to$+ts te !i%%o be o$r so$% and +est$re it abroad,

$r earts are in*omm$ni*ab%e sti%%.

In !at !e so! o$rse%ves !e are i+nored.

e abyss 'rom so$% to so$% *annot be brid+ed-y any s#i%% o' to$+t or tri*# o' seemin+.

nto o$r very se%ves !e are abrid+ed

Wen !e !o$%d $tter to o$r to$+t o$r bein+.

We are o$r dreams o' o$rse%ves, so$%s by +%eams,/nd ea* to ea* oter dreams o' oters dreams.

II.

I' tat a""arent "art o' %i'es de%i+t

$r tin+%ed '%essense *ir*$ms*ribes !ere seen-y a$+t save re'%e and *o*arna% si+t,

oy, '%es and %i'e mi+t "rove b$t a +ross s*reen.

a"%y r$ts body is no eyab%e bein+,

/""earan*e even as a""earan*e %ies,a"%y o$r *%ose, dar#, va+$e, !arm sense o' seein+

Is te *o#ed vision o' b%ind'o%ded eyes.

Were'rom !at *omes to to$+ts sense o' %i'e4 No$+t./%% is eiter te irrationa% !or%d !e see

r some a$+te%se !ose bein+$n#no!n dot rot

Its $se 'or o$r to$+ts $se. Wen*e ta#et me

/ $a%m%i#e a*e o' %i'e, a bodydee"So$%ate o' !at !e see# and !at !e !ee".

"+ 0027



III.

Wen I do tin# my meanest %ine sa%% be

8ore in imes $se tan my *reatin+ !o%e,at '$t$re eyes more *%ear%y sa%% 'ee% me

In tis in#ed "a+e tan in my dire*t so$%9Wen I *on:e*t$re "$t to ma#e me seein+

;ood readers o' me in some a'tertime,

an#'$% to some idea o' my bein+at dot not even my !it +one tr$e so$% rime9

/n an+er at te essen*e o' te !or%d,

at ma#es tis t$s, or tin#ab%e tis !ise,

a#es my so$% by te troat and ma#es it $r%edIn ni+t%y orrors o' des"aired s$rmise,

/nd I be*ome te mere sense o' a ra+e

at %a*#s te very !ords !ose !aste mi+t s$a+e.

I<.

I *o$%d not tin# o' tee as "ie*=d rot,

>et s$* to$ !ert, 'or to$ adst been %on+ dead9

>et to$ %ivdst entire in my seein+ to$+t

/nd !at to$ !ert in me ad never '%ed. Nay, I ad 'ied te moments o' ty bea$ty

y ebbin+ smi%e, ty #isss readiness,

/nd memory ad ta$+t my eart te d$tyo #no! tee ever at tat deat%essness.

-$t !en I *ame !ere to$ !ert %aid, and sa!

e nat$ra% '%o!ers i+norin+ tee sans b%ame,

/nd te en*roa*in+ +rass, !it *as$a% '%a!,Framin+ te stone to a+e !ere !as ty name,

I #ne! not o! to 'ee%, nor !at to be

o!ards ty 'ates materia% se*re*y."+ 0037

<.

o! *an I tin#, or ed+e my to$+ts to a*tion,

Wen te miser%y "ress o' ea* days need

/*es to a narro!ness o' s"i%%ed distra*tion8y so$% a""a%%ed at te !or%ds !or#s time+reed4

o! *an I "a$se my to$+ts $"on te tas# 8y so$% !as born to tin# tat it m$st do



Wen every moment as a to$+t to as#

o 'it te immediate *ravin+ o' its *$e4e *oin Id ea" 'or marryin+ my 8$se

/nd b$i%d o$r ome it +reater imetobe

-e*omes disso%ved by needs o' ea* days $se/nd I 'ee% be++ared o' in'inity,

?i#e a tr$e&ristian sinner, ea* day '%esdriven-y is o!n a*t to 'or'eit is !ised eaven.

<I.

/s a bad orator, bad%y oerboo#s#i%%ed,@ot over'%o! is "$r"ose !it made eat,

/nd, %i#e a *%o*#, !inds !it !ito$tness !i%%ed

Wat so$%d ave been an inner instin*ts 'eat9

r as a "rose!it, ars%y "oet t$rned,?a*#in+ te s$bt%er m$si* in is meas$re,

Wit $se%ess *are %abo$rs b$t to be s"$rned,

&o$rtin+ in a%ien s"ee* te 8$ses "%eas$re9I st$dy o! to %ove or o! to ate,

Estran+ed by *ons*io$sness 'rom sentiment,

Wit a to$+t 'ee%in+ 'or*ed to be sedate

Even !en te 'ee%in+s nat$re is vio%ent9/s !o !o$%d %earn to s!im !ito$t te river,

Wen nearest to te tri*#, as 'ar as ever.

"+ 00A7

<II.

y !ords are tort$re to me, tat s*ar*e +rieve tee

at entire deat sa%% n$%% my entire to$+t9

/nd I 'ee% tort$re, not tat I be%ieve tee,

-$t tat I *annot disbe%ieve tee not.Sa%% tat o' me tat no! *ontains te stars

-e by te very *ontained stars s$rvived4

$s !ere Fate a%% $n:$st. >et !at tr$t bars/n a%% $n:$st Fates tr$t 'rom bein+ be%ieved4

&on:e*t$re *annot 'it to te seen !or%d

/ +arment o' its to$+t $ntorn or *overin+,

r !it its st$''ed +arb 'or+e an oter!or%dWito$t itse%' its dead de*eit dis*overin+9

So, a%% bein+ "ossib%e, an id%e to$+t may

?ess id%e to$+ts, se%'#no!n no tr$er, dismay.



<III.

o! many mas#s !ear !e, and $ndermas#s,

"on o$r *o$ntenan*e o' so$%, and !en,I' 'or se%'s"ort te so$% itse%' $nmas#s,

Bno!s it te %ast mas# o'' and te 'a*e "%ain4e tr$e mas# 'ee%s no inside to te mas#

-$t %oo#s o$t o' te mas# by *omas#ed eyes.

Watever *ons*io$sness be+ins te tas# e tas#s a**e"ted $se to s%ee"ness ties.

?i#e a *i%d 'ri+ted by its mirrored 'a*es,

$r so$%s, tat *i%dren are, bein+ to$+t%osin+,

Foist oterness $"on teir seen +rima*es/nd +et a !o%e !or%d on teir 'or+ot *a$sin+9

/nd, !en a to$+t !o$%d $nmas# o$r so$%s mas#in+,

Itse%' +oes not $nmas#ed to te $nmas#in+."+ 0057

IC.

to be id%e %ovin+ id%enessD

-$t I am id%e a%% in ate o' me9

Ever in a*tions dream, in te 'a%se stress' "$r"osed a*tion never set to be.

?i#e a 'ier*e beast se%'"enned in a bait%air,

8y !i%% to a*t binds !it e*ess my a*tion, Nota*tin+ *oi%s te to$+t !it ra+ed des"air,

/nd a*tin+ ra+e dot "aint des"air distra*tion.

?i#e someone sin#in+ in a trea*ero$s sand,

Ea* +est$re to de%iver sin#s te more9e str$++%e avai%s not, and to raise no and,

o$+ b$t more s%o!%y $se%ess, !eve no "o!er.

en*e %ive I te dead %i'e ea* day dot brin+,e"$r"osed 'or net days re"$r"osin+.

C.

/s to a *i%d, I ta%#ed my eart as%ee"

Wit em"ty "romise o' te *omin+ day,

/nd it s%e"t rater 'or my !ords made s%ee"an 'rom a to$+t o' !at teir sense did say.

For did it *are 'or sense, !o$%d it not !a#e/nd $estion *%oser to te morro!s "%eas$re4



Wo$%d it not ed+e nearer my !ords, to ta#e

e "romise in te metin+ o' its meas$re4So, i' it s%e"t, t!as tat it *ared b$t 'or

e "resent s%ee"y $se o' "romised :oy,

an#in+ te 'r$it b$t 'or te 'ore*ome '%o!er Wi* te %ess a*tive senses best en:oy.

$s !it de*eit do I detain te eart' !i* de*eits se%' #no!s itse%' a "art.

"+ 0067

CI.

?i#e to a si" tat storms $r+e on its *o$rse,

-y its o!n tria%s o$r so$% is s$rer made.

e very tin+s tat ma#e te voya+e !orse

@o ma#e it better9 its "eri% is its aid./nd, as te storm drives 'rom te storm, o$r eart

Witin te "eri% disim"eri%%ed +ro!s9

/ "ort is near te more 'rom "ort !e "arte "ort !ereto o$r driven dire*tion +oes.

I' !e rea" #no!%ed+e to *ross"ro'it, tis

From storms !e %earn, !en te storms ei+t dot drive

at te b%a*# "resen*e o' its vio%en*e ise "$sin+ "romise o' near 'ar b%$e s#ies.

?earn !e b$t o! to ave te "i%ots#i%%,

/nd te storms very mi+t sa%% mate o$r !i%%.

CII.

/s te %one, 'ri+ted $ser o' a ni+troad

S$dden%y t$rns ro$nd, notin+ to dete*t,

>et on is 'ears sense #ee"et sti%% te %oad

' tat brin#notin+ e dot b$t s$s"e*t9/nd te *o%d terror moves to im more near

' sometin+ tat 'rom notin+ *asts a s"e%%,

at, !en e moves, to 'ri+t more is not tere,/nds on%y visib%e !en invisib%e

So I $"on te !or%d t$rn ro$nd in to$+t,

/nd notin+ vie!in+ do no *o$ra+e ta#e,

-$t my more terror, 'rom no seen *a$se +ot,o tat 'e%t *or"orate em"tiness 'orsa#e,

/nd dra! my sense o' mysterys orror 'rom

Seein+ no mysterys mystery a%one."+ 007



CIII.

Wen I so$%d be as%ee" to mine o!n voi*e

In te%%in+ tee o! m$* ty %oves my dream,I 'ind me %istenin+ to myse%', te noise

' my !ords otered in my earin+ tem.>et !onder notG tis is te "oets so$%.

I *o$%d not te%% tee !e%% o' o! I %ove,

?oved I not %ess by #no!in+ it, !ere a%%8y se%' my %ove and no to$+t %ove to "rove.

Wat *ons*io$sness ma#es more by *ons*io$sness,

It ma#es %ess, 'or it ma#es it %ess itse%',

8y sense o' %ove *o$%d not my %ove ri*dress@id it not 'or it s"end %oves o!n %ove"e%'.

Poets %oves tis (as in tese !ords I "rove tee)G

I %ove my %ove 'or tee more tan I %ove tee.

CI<.

We are born at s$nset and !e die ere morn,

/nd te !o%e dar#ness o' te !or%d !e #no!,

o! *an !e +$ess its tr$t, to dar#ness born,

e obs*$re *onse$en*e o' absent +%o!4n%y te stars do tea* $s %i+t. We +ras"

eir s*attered sma%%nesses !it to$+ts tat stray,

/nd, to$+ teir eyes %oo# tro$+ ni+ts *om"%ete mas#,>et tey s"ea# not te 'eat$res o' te day.

Wy so$%d tese sma%% denia%s o' te !o%e

8ore tan te b%a*# !o%e te "%eased eyes attra*t4

Wy !at it *a%%s H!ort does te *a"tive so$%/dd to te sma%% and 'rom te %ar+e detra*t4

So, "$t o' %i+ts %ove !isin+ it ni+ts stret*,

/ ni+t%y to$+t o' day !e dar#%y rea*."+ 00J7

C<.

?i#e a bad s$itor des"erate and tremb%in+

From te mied sense o' bein+ not %oved and %ovin+,

Wo !it 'eared %on+in+ a%' !o$%d #no!, dissemb%in+Wit !at ed !is "roved !at e 'ears soon "rovin+,

I %oo# !it inner eyes a'raid to %oo#,>et "er"%eed into %oo#in+, at te !ort



is verse may ave and !onder, o' my boo#,

o !at to$+ts sa%%t in a%ien earts +ive birt.-$t, as e !o dot %ove, and, %ovin+, o"es,

>et, o"in+, 'ears, 'ears to "$t "roo' to "roo',

/nd in is mind 'or "ossib%e "roo's +ro"es,@e%ayin+ te tr$e "roo', %est te rea% tin+ s*o'',

I dai%y %ive, it 'ame I dream to see,-$t by my to$+t o' oters to$+t o' me.

C<I.

We never :oy en:oy to tat '$%% "ointe+ret dot !is :oy ad en:oy=d been,

Nor ave te stren+t re+ret to disa""oint

e*a%%in+ not "ast :oys to$+t, b$t its mien.

>et :oy !as :oy !en it en:oy=d !as/nd a'teren:oyed !en as :oy re*a%%ed,

It m$st ave been :oy ere its :oy did "ass

/nd, re*a%%ed, :oy sti%%, sin*e its bein+"ast +a%%ed./%asD /%% tis is $se%ess, 'or :oys in

En:oyin+, not in tin#in+ o' en:oyin+.

Its mere to$+tmirrorin+ +ainst itse%' dot sin,

-y mere re'%e*tin+ so%id %i'e destroyin+,>et te more to$+t !e ta#e to to$+t to "rove

It m$st not tin#, dot '$rter 'rom :oy move.

"+ 00K7

C<II.

8y %ove, and not I, is te e+oist.

8y %ove 'or tee %oves itse%' more tan tee9

/y, more tan me, in !om it dot eist,

/nd ma#es me %ive tat it may 'eed on me.In te *o$ntry o' brid+es te brid+e is

8ore rea% tan te sores it dot $nsever9

So in o$r !or%d, a%% o' e%ation, tisIs tr$etat tr$er is ?ove tan eiter %over.

is to$+t tere'ore *omes %i+t%y to @o$bts door

I' !e, seein+ s$bstan*e o' tis !or%d, are not

8ere Interva%s, ;ods /bsen*e and no more,o%%o!s in rea% &ons*io$sness and o$+t.

/nd i' tis "ossib%e to o$+t to bear tis 'r$it,

Wy so$%d it not be "ossib%e to r$t4



C<III.

Inde'inite s"a*e, !i*, by *os$bstan*e ni+t,

In one b%a*# mystery t!o void mysteries b%ends9e stray stars, !ose inn$merab%e %i+t

e"eats one mystery ti%% *on:e*t$re ends9e stream o' time, #no!n by birtb$rstin+ b$bb%es9

e +$%' o' si%en*e, em"ty even o' no$+t9

o$+ts i+!a%%ed maLe, !i* te o$ted o!ner tro$b%es-e*a$se te strin+s %ost and te "%an 'or+otG

Wen I tin# on tis and tat ere I stand,

e tin#er o' tese to$+ts, em"ti%y !ise,

o%din+ $" to my tin#in+ my tin+and/nd %oo#in+ at it !it to$+ta%ien eyes,

e "rayer o' my !onder %oo#et "ast

e $niversa% dar#ness %one and vast."+ 0107

CIC.

-ea$ty and %ove %et no one se"arate,

Wom ea*t Nat$re did to ea* oter 'it,

;ivin+ to -ea$ty %ove as 'inisin+ 'ate/nd to ?ove bea$ty as tr$e *o%o$r o' it.

?et e b$t 'riend be !o te so$% 'inds 'air,

-$t %et none %ove o$tside te bodys to$+t,So te seen *o$"%es to+eterness sa%% bear

r$t to te bea$ty ea* in te oter so$+t.

I *o$%d b$t %ove tee o$t o' mo*#ery

' %ove and tee and mine o!n $+%iness9ere'ore ty bea$ty I sin+ and !is not tee,

an#in+ te ;ods I %on+ not o$t o' "%a*e,

?est, %i#e a s%ave tat 'or #in+s robes dot %on+,btained, sa%% !it mere !earin+ do tem !ron+.

CC.

Wen in te !idenin+ *ir*%e o' rebirt

o a ne! '%es my trave%%ed so$% sa%% *ome,

/nd try a+ain te $nremembered eartWit te o%d sadness 'or te immorta% ome,

Sa%% I revisit tese same di''erin+ 'ie%ds/nd *$%% te o%d ne! '%o!ers !it te same sense,



at some sma%% breat o' 'oi%ed remembran*e yie%ds,

' more a+e tan my days in tis "reten*e4Sa%% I a+ain re+ret stran+e 'a*es %ost

' !i* te "resent memory is 'or+ot

/nd b$t in $nseen b$%#s o' va+$eness tossed$t o' te *%osed sea and b%a*# ni+t o' o$+t4

Were ty 'a*e one, !at s!eetness !i%%t not be,o$+ by b%ind 'ee%in+, to remember teeD

"+ 0117

CCI.

o$+t !as born b%ind, b$t o$+t #no!s !at is seein+.

Its *are'$% to$*, de*i"erin+ 'orms 'rom sa"es,

Sti%% s$++ests 'orm as a$+t !ose "ro"er bein+

8ere 'indin+ to$* !it errin+ dar#ness dra"es.>et !en*e, e*e"t 'rom +$essed si+t, does to$* tea*

at to$* is b$t a *%ose and em"ty sense4

o! does mere to$*, se%'$n*ontented, rea*For some tr$er senses !o%e inte%%i+en*e4

e tin+ on*e to$*ed, i' to$* be no! omitted,

Stands yet in memory rea% and o$t!ard #no!n,

So te $nto$*in+ memory o' to$* is 'ittedWit sense o' a sense !ereby 'ar tin+s are so!n

So, by to$* o' $nto$*in+, !ron+%y ari+t,

o$* to$+t o' seein+ sees not tin+s b$t Si+t.

CCII.

8y so$% is a sti'' "a+eant, man by man,

' some E+y"tian art tan E+y"t o%der,

Fo$nd in some tomb !ose rite no +$ess *an s*an,

Were a%% tin+s e%se to *o%o$red d$st did mo$%der.Wateer its sense may mean, its a+e is t!in

o tat o' "riestoods !ose 'eet stood near ;od,

Wen #no!%ed+e !as so +reat tat t!as a sin/nd mans mere so$% too man 'or its abode.

-$t !en I as# !at means tat "a+eant I

/nd !o$%d %oo# at it s$dden%y, I %ose

e sense I ad o' seein+ it, nor *an try/+ain to %oo#, nor at my memory a $se

at seems re*a%%in+, save tat it re*a%%s

/n em"tiness o' avin+ seen tose !a%%s."+ 0127



CCIII.

Even as $"on a %o! and *%o$ddomed day,

Wen *%o$ds are one *%o$d ti%% te oriLon,$r tin#in+ senses deem te s$n a!ay

/nd say Htis s$n%ess and Htere is no s$n9/nd yet te very day tey !ron+ tr$t by

Is o' te $nseen s$ns e''%$ent essen*e,

e very !ords do +ive temse%ves te %ie,e very to$+t o' absen*e *omes 'rom "resen*eG

Even so deem !e tro$+ ;ood o' !at is evi%.

e s"ea#s o' %i+t tat s"ea#s o' absent %i+t,

/nd absent +od, be*omin+ "resent devi%,Is sti%% te absent +od by essen*e ri+t.

e !itdra!n *a$se by bein+ !itdra!n dot +et

(-ein+ tereby *a$se sti%%) te denied e''e*t.

CCI<.

Sometin+ in me !as born be'ore te stars

/nd sa! te s$n be+in 'rom 'ar a!ay.

$r ye%%o!, %o*a% day on its !ont :ars,

For it at *omm$ned !it an abso%$te day.ro$+ my o$+ts ni+t, as a !orn robes eard trai%

at I ave never seen, I dra+ tis "ast

at sa! te Possib%e %i#e a da!n +ro! "a%en te %ost ni+t be'ore it, m$te and vast.

It dates remoter tan ;ods birt *an rea*,

at ad no birt b$t te !or%ds *omin+ a'ter.

So te !or%ds to me as, a'ter !is"ered s"ee*,e *a$sei+nored s$dden e*oin+ o' %a$+ter.

at t as a meanin+ my *on:e*t$re #no!s,

-$t tat t as meanin+s a%% its meanin+ so!s."+ 0137

CC<.

We are in Fate and Fates and do b$t %a*#

$tness 'rom so$% to #no! o$rse%ves its d!e%%in+,

/nd do b$t *om"e% Fate aside or ba*# -y Fates o!n immanen*e in te *om"e%%in+.

We are too 'ar in $s 'rom o$t!ard tr$to #no! o! m$* !e are not !at !e are,



/nd %ive b$t in te eat o' errors yo$t,

>et yo$n+ eno$+ its a*tin+ yo$t to i+nore.e do$b%eness o' mind 'ai%s $s, to +%an*e

/t o$r eterior "resen*e amid tin+s,

SiLin+ 'rom oterness o$r *o$ntenan*e/nd seein+ o$r "$""et !i%%s a*ta*tin+ strin+s.

/n $n#no!n %an+$a+e s"ea#s in $s, !i* !e/re at te !ords o', 'ronted 'rom rea%ity.

CC<I.

e !or%d is !oven a%% o' dream and error /nd b$t one s$reness in o$r tr$t may %ie

at !en !e o%d to a$+t o$r tin#in+s mirror

We #no! it not by #no!in+ it tereby.

For b$t one side o' tin+s te mirror #no!s,/nd #no!s it *o%ded 'rom its so%idness.

/ do$b%e %ie its tr$t is9 !at it so!s

-y tr$e so!s 'a%se and no!ere by tr$e "%a*e.o$+t *%o$ds o$r %i'es daysense !it stran+eness, yet

Never 'rom stran+eness more tan tat its stran+e

@ot b$y o$r "er"%eed tin#in+, 'or !e +et

-$t te !ords sense 'rom !ords#no!%ed+e, tr$t, *an+e.We #no! te !or%d is 'a%se, not !at is tr$e.

>et !e tin# on, #no!in+ !e neer sa%% #no!.

"+ 01A7

CC<II.

o! yesterday is %on+ a+oD e "ast

Is a 'ied in'inite distan*e 'rom today,

/nd by+one tin+s, te 'irst%ived as te %ast,

In irre"arab%e sameness 'ar a!ay.o! te tobe is in'inite%y ever

$t o' te "%a*e !erein it !i%% be No!,

?i#e te seen !ave yet 'ar $" in te river,Wi* rea*es not $s, b$t te ne!!aved '%o!D

is tin+ ime is, !ose bein+ is avin+ none,

e e$ab%e tyrant o' o$r di''erent 'ates,

Wo *o$%d not be bo$+t o'' by a sattered s$nr tri*#ed by ne! $se o' o$r *are'$% dates.

is tin+ ime is, tat to te +rave!i%% bear

8y eart, s$re b$t o' it and o' my 'ear.



CC<III.

e ed+e o' te +reen !ave !ite%y dot iss

"on te !etted sand. I %oo#, yet dream.S$re%y rea%ity *annot be tisD

Someo!, some!ere tis s$re%y dot b$t seemDe s#y, te sea, tis +reat etent dis*%osed

' o$t!ard :oy, tis b$%# o' %i'e !e 'ee%,

Is not sometin+, b$t sometin+ inter"osed.n%y !at in tis is not tis is rea%.

I' tis be to ave sense, i' to be a!a#e

-e b$t to see tis bri+t, +reat s%ee" o' tin+s,

For te rarer "otion mine o!n dreams I%% ta#e/nd 'or tr$t *omm$ne !it ima+inin+s,

o%din+ a dream too bitter, a too 'air *$rse,

is *ommon s%ee" o' men, te $niverse."+ 0157

CCIC.

8y !eary %i'e, tat %ives $nsatis'ied

n te 'oi%ed o''brin# o' bein+ eer b$t tis,

o !om te "o!er to !i%% at been denied/nd te !i%% to reno$n*e dot a%so miss9

8y sated %i'e, !it avin+ notin+ sated,

In te motion o' movin+ "ois=d aye,Witin its dreams 'rom its o!n dreams abated

is %i'e %et te ;ods *an+e or ta#e a!ay.

For tis end%ess s$**ession o' em"ty o$rs,

?i#e deserts a'ter deserts, void%y one,@ot $ndermine te very dreamin+ "o!ers

/nd d$%% even to$+ts a*tive ina*tion,

aintin+ !it 'ore$n!i%%ed !i%% te dreamed a*t!i*e t$s removed 'rom te $nobtained 'a*t.

CCC.

I do not #no! !at tr$t te 'a%se $ntr$t

' tis sad sense o' te seen !or%d may o!n,

r i' tis '%o!ered "%ant bears a%so a 'r$itnto te tr$e rea%ity $n#no!n.

-$t as te rainbo!, neiter earts nor s#ys,Stands in te dri""in+ 'resness o' %$%%ed rain,



/ o"e, not rea% yet not 'an*ys, %ies

/t!art te moment o' o$r *easin+ "ain.Someo!, sin*e "ain is 'e%t yet 'e%t as i%%,

o"e at a better !arrant tan bein+ o"ed9

Sin*e "ain is 'e%t as a$+t !e so$%d not 'ee%8an at a Nat$res reason 'or avin+ +ro"ed,

Sin*e ime !as ime and a+e and +rie' is meas$res,o!ards a better se%ter tan imes "%eas$res.

"+ 0167

CCCI.

I am o%der tan Nat$re and er ime

-y a%% te time%ess a+e o' &ons*io$sness,

/nd my ad$%t ob%ivion o' te *%ime

Were I !as born ma#es me not *o$ntry%ess./y, and dim tro$+ my day%i+t to$+ts es*a"e

>earnin+s 'or tat %and !ere my *i%dood dreamed,

Wi* I *annot re*a%% in *o%o$r or sa"e-$t a$nts my o$rs %i#e sometin+ tat at +%eamed

/nd yet is not as %i+t remembered,

Nor to te %e't or to te ri+t *on*eived9

/nd a%% ro$nd me tastes as i' %i'e !ere dead/nd te !or%d made b$t to be disbe%ieved.

$s I my o"e on $n#no!n tr$t %ay9 yet

o! b$t by o"e do I te $n#no!n tr$t +et4

CCCII.

Wen I ave sense o' !at to sense a""ears,

Sense is sense ere tis mine or mine in me is.

Wen I ear, earin+, ere I do ear, ears.

Wen I see, be'ore me abstra*t Seein+ sees.I am "art So$% "art I in a%% I to$*

So$% by tat "art I o%d in *ommon !it a%%,

/nd I te s"oi%ed "art, tat dot ma#e sense s$*/s I *an err by it and my sense mine *a%%.

e rest is !onderin+ !at tese to$+ts may mean,

at *ome to e"%ain and s$dden%y are +one,

?i#e messen+ers tat mo*# te messa+e mien,E"%ainin+ a%% b$t te e"%anation9

/s i' !e a *i"ered %etters *i"er it

/nd 'ind it in an $n#no!n %an+$a+e !rit."+ 017



CCCIII.

e tat +oes ba*# does, sin*e e +oes, advan*e,

o$+ e dot not advan*e !o +oet ba*#,/nd e tat see#s, to$+ e on notin+ *an*e,

8ay sti%% by !ords be said to 'ind a %a*#.is "arado o' avin+, tat is no$+t

In te !or%ds meanin+ o' te tin+s it s*reens,

Is yet tr$e o' te s$bstan*e o' "$re to$+t/nd tere means sometin+ by te no$+t it means.

For tin#in+ no$+t does on no$+t bein+ *on'er,

/s +ivin+ not is a*tin+ not to +ive,

/nd, to te same $nbribed tr$e to$+t, to err Is to 'ind tr$t, to$+ by its ne+ative.

So !y *a%% tis !or%d 'a%se, i' 'a%se to be

-e to be a$+t, and bein+ a$+t -ein+ to be4

CCCI<.

a""y te maimed, te a%t, te mad, te b%ind

/%% !o, stam"ed se"arate by *$rtai%in+ birt,

!e no d$tys a%%e+ian*e to man#ind

Nor stand a va%$in+ in teir s*eme o' !ortD-$t I, !om Fate, not Nat$re, did *$rtai%,

-y no eterior voidness bein+ eem"t,

8$st bear a**$sin+ +%an*es !ere I 'ai%,Fied in te +enera% orbit o' *ontem"t.

Fate, %ess tan Nat$re in bein+ #ind to %a*#in+,

;ivin+ te i%%, so!s not as o$ter *a$se,

8a#in+ o$r mo*#'ree !i%% te mirrors ba*#in+Wi* Fates o!n a*ts as i' in itse%' so!s9

/nd men, %i#e *i%dren, seein+ te ima+e tere,

a#e "%a*e 'or *a$se and ma#e o$r !i%% Fate bear."+ 01J7

CCC<.

;ood. I ave done. 8y eart !ei+s. I am sad.

e o$ter day, void stat$e o' %it b%$e,

Is a%to+eter o$t!ard, oter, +%ad/t mere bein+ notI (so my a*es *onstr$e).

I, tat ave 'ai%ed in everytin+, be!ai% Notin+ tis o$r b$t tat I ave be!ai%ed,



For in te +enera% 'ate !at ist to 'ai%4

Wy, 'ate bein+ "ast 'or Fate, tis b$t to ave 'ai%ed.Watever a"or sto", !at matters it,

Sit to te matterin+ o$r !i%% brin+et no$+t4

Wit te i+er tri'%in+ %et $s !or%d o$r !it,&ons*io$s tat, i' !e dot, tat !as te %ot

e re+$%ar stars bo$nd $s to, !en tey stood;od'aters to o$r birt and to o$r b%ood.

35 sonnets pessoa

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