Poem
Fernando Pessoa
Abdication
O night eternal, call me your sonAnd take me into your arms. I’m a king
Who relinquished, willingly,
My throne of dreams and tedium.
My sword, which dragged my weak arms down,
I surrendered to strong and steady hands,
And in the anteroom I abandoned
My shattered scepter and crown.
My spurs that jingled to no avail
And my useless coat of mail
I left on the cold stone steps.
I took off royalty, body and soul,
And returned to the night so calm, so old,
Like the landscape when the sun sets.
© Translation: 2006, Richard Zenith
From: A Little Larger Than the Entire Universe: Selected Poems
Publisher: Penguin, New York, 2006
From: A Little Larger Than the Entire Universe: Selected Poems
Publisher: Penguin, New York, 2006
Abdicação
Abdicação
Toma-me, ó noite eterna, nos teus braçosE chama-me teu filho. Eu sou um Rei
Que voluntariamente abandonei
O meu trono de sonhos e cansaços.
Minha espada, pesada a braços lassos,
Em mãos viris e calmas entreguei,
E meu ceptro e coroa — eu os deixei
Na antecâmara, feitos em pedaços.
Minha cota de malha, tão inútil,
Minhas esporas, de um tinir tão fútil,
Deixei-as pela fria escadaria.
Despi a realeza, corpo e alma,
E regressei à Noite antiga e calma
Como a paisagem ao morrer do dia.
© 1913, Fernando Pessoa (himself)
From: Poesia
Publisher: Assírio & Alvim, Lisbon
From: Poesia
Publisher: Assírio & Alvim, Lisbon
Poems
Poems of Fernando Pessoa
Close
Abdication
O night eternal, call me your sonAnd take me into your arms. I’m a king
Who relinquished, willingly,
My throne of dreams and tedium.
My sword, which dragged my weak arms down,
I surrendered to strong and steady hands,
And in the anteroom I abandoned
My shattered scepter and crown.
My spurs that jingled to no avail
And my useless coat of mail
I left on the cold stone steps.
I took off royalty, body and soul,
And returned to the night so calm, so old,
Like the landscape when the sun sets.
© 2006, Richard Zenith
From: A Little Larger Than the Entire Universe: Selected Poems
Publisher: 2006, Penguin, New York
From: A Little Larger Than the Entire Universe: Selected Poems
Publisher: 2006, Penguin, New York
Abdication
O night eternal, call me your sonAnd take me into your arms. I’m a king
Who relinquished, willingly,
My throne of dreams and tedium.
My sword, which dragged my weak arms down,
I surrendered to strong and steady hands,
And in the anteroom I abandoned
My shattered scepter and crown.
My spurs that jingled to no avail
And my useless coat of mail
I left on the cold stone steps.
I took off royalty, body and soul,
And returned to the night so calm, so old,
Like the landscape when the sun sets.
© 2006, Richard Zenith
From: A Little Larger Than the Entire Universe: Selected Poems
Publisher: 2006, Penguin, New York
From: A Little Larger Than the Entire Universe: Selected Poems
Publisher: 2006, Penguin, New York
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