sad song to bore everyone - pablo neruda

Sad Song To Bore Everyone
by Pablo Neruda (tr. Ilan Stavans)


I wasted my life all night
doing some counting
not cows,
not pounds,
not francs, not dollars,
no, nothing like that.


I wasted my life all night
doing some counting,
not cars,
not cats,
not loves,
no.


I wasted my life in the light,
doing some counting,
not books,
not dogs,
not numbers,
no.


I wasted the moon all night
doing some counting,
not kisses,
not brides,
not beds,
no.


I wasted the night in the waves,
doing some counting,
not bottles,
not teeth,
not cups,
no.


I wasted the war in peace
doing some counting,
not the dead,
not flowers,
no.


I wasted the rain on the land
doing some counting,
not roads,
not songs,
no.


I wasted the land in shadow
doing some counting,
not hair,
not wrinkles,
not lost things,
no.


I wasted death in life
doing some counting,
and does it add up?
I don't remember,
no.


I wasted life in death
doing some counting,
and if I show a loss
or a surplus,
I don't know,
and neither does the land.


Et cetera.