Paulo Henriques Britto
SETE SONETOS SIMÉTRICOS V
Surprised by what? Not necessarily
by what a thing of beauty’s supposed to be
forever — Götterfunken kind of stuff.
No way. Lightning like this strikes (if at all)
but once, and only when you’re young enough,
when you still have the spark, the wherewithal.
And yet, long past lo mezzo del camin,
there’re moments when it feels as if a pall
of fog lifted, and a sight long unseen
lay suddenly before your eyes. You say:
It’s that, again. Well, nearly that. I mean,
as near as it gets, this late in the day.
Breathe in deep. The moment’s not over yet.
And make a mental note: Not to forget.