instantes - instants

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Si pudiera vivir nuevamente mi vida.

En la próxima, trataría de cometer mas errores.

No intentaría ser tan perfecto, me relajaría mas.

Sería mas tonto de lo que he sido,

de hecho tomaría muy pocas cosas con seriedad.

Sería menos higiénico, correría mas riesgos.

Haría mas viajes, contemplaría mas atardeceres,

subiría mas montañas, nadaría mas ríos.

Iría a mas lugares donde nunca he ido,

comería mas helados y menos habas.

Tendría mas problemas reales y menos imaginarios.

Yo fui una de esas personas que vivió sensata y prolíficamente

cada minuto de su vida.

Claro que tuve momentos de alegría, pero si pudiese volver atrás,

trataría de tener solamente buenos momentos.

Por si no lo saben, de eso está hecha la vida, solo de momentos.

No te pierdas el ahora.

Yo era uno de esos que nunca iba a ninguna parte, sin un termómetro,

una bolsa de agua caliente, un paraguas y un paracaídas.

Si pudiese volver a vivir, viajaría mas liviano.

Si pudiera volver a vivir, comenzaría a andar descalzo a principios de la primavera y seguirá así hasta concluir el otoño.

Daría mas vueltas en calesita, contemplaría mas amaneceres y jugaría con niños.

Si tuviera otra vez la vida por delante.

Pero ya ven, tengo 85 años y sé que me estoy muriendo.

Jorge Luis Borges.

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El poema incluído, si bien es muchas veces atribuído a J.L.B., en realidad no le corresponde, ni parcial, ni totalmente. Ver enlace,

http://www.omidia.com/thought/p_nadine.html

Aportación de: A. Escudero Soler: Barcelona - España

La verdadera autora es una desconocida poetisa norteamericana llamada Nadine Stair, que lo publicó a los 86 años, en 1978, ocho años antes de que Borges muriera en Ginebra,

If I Had My Life to Live Over

I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax, I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.

Nadine Stair

85 years old

Louisville, Kentucky


Por otra parte, parece que mucho del tema aparece en: “If I had My Life to Live over”, firmado por el caricaturista americano Don Herold, y editado en la revista Reader’s Digest de octubre de 1953

En la biblioteca del Iberoamerikanisches Institut de Berlín, se encuentra la edición en cuestión:

El incipit reza así: “Por supuesto, nadie puede desfreír un huevo, pero no hay ley que impida considerarlo” (Of course, you can't unfry an egg, but there is no law against thinking about it”). Luego viene el párrafo inspirador:

If I had my life to live over, I would try to make more mistakes. I would relax. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I know of very few things that I would take seriously. I would be less hygienic. I would go more places. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less bran.

Instants

by Jorge Luis Borges

If I could live again my life,
In the next - I'll try,
- to make more mistakes,
I won't try to be so perfect,
I'll be more relaxed,
I'll be more full - than I am now,
In fact, I'll take fewer things seriously,
I'll be less hygenic,
I'll take more risks,
I'll take more trips,
I'll watch more sunsets,
I'll climb more mountains,
I'll swim more rivers,
I'll go to more places - I've never been,
I'll eat more ice creams and less (lime) beans,
I'll have more real problems - and less imaginary
ones,
I was one of those people who live
prudent and prolific lives -
each minute of his life,
Offcourse that I had moments of joy - but,
if I could go back I'll try to have only good moments,

If you don't know - thats what life is made of,
Don't lose the now!

I was one of those who never goes anywhere
without a thermometer,
without a hot-water bottle,
and without an umberella and without a parachute,

If I could live again - I will travel light,
If I could live again - I'll try to work bare feet
at the beginning of spring till
the end of autumn,
I'll ride more carts,
I'll watch more sunrises and play with more children,
If I have the life to live - but now I am 85,
- and I know that I am dying ...

Jorge Luis Borges

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