Marginal Note Poem by Peter Mamara

by M. Eminescu (1850-1889)
Time slips away, time comes.
All things are old, and new are all things.
What is good and what is not?
Ask yourself and think about it.

Do not wish and don't be worried,
All that is wave, like a wave passes.
If it lures you, if it's calling you,
Keep staying cool at the whole lot.

Many things happen in front of you.
Our audible range grasps many things.
Who would remember all these?
Or who would stop to listen to them?

You sit down
And find yourself
—With futile noise.
Time slips away, time comes.

The stability of a detached thought
Should not move its pointer at all
Towards the instant that changes
To take off the mask of happiness,

That comes to life from its death,
And perhaps lasts only for a split second.
For the one who knows this:
All is old and all is new.

You should see yourself.
— As a spectator at the theatre.
A guy may play even four roles
But you still recognize his face.

And if he cries, and he is a good actor,
You have a good time in your corner.
And from an actor's skill: you understand
What, is good and what is bad.

The past and the future
These are two sides of a leaf.
One can see the beginning at the end
— One that knows how to make sense of it.

All there was, or will ever be,
Right now we have it altogether.
But about its uselessness,
Ask yourself, and think about it.

Since everything there is,
It follows in the same ways.
And for thousands of years
People are happy, and people are sad.

There are other masks, but the play is the same.
There are other mouths, yet there is the same game
It tricked so many times: many.
So do not hope and do not worry.

Do not hope for anything, when seeing the crooks
How they make a catwalk to success.
Even if you had a star on your head
The foolish guys shall get ahead of you.

Do not be afraid each time,
They bow to each other.
Do not become their acquaintance.
What is wave shall go like a wave.

The world stretches shiny lures
With mermaid sound
So it can change the actors on the stage.
It lures you in whirlpools.

You enter unnoticed on the side.
Beyond your way,
To what tempts you, to what is your call,
Do not even listen.

If they pat you, remain motionless.
If they curse you, don't say anything.
If you know what they are up to,
What do you want to do with your advice?

They can all say, what they want to say.
The one who is able to, he goes through this world.
So you should not try to like anything.
You keep being detached to everything.

You shall remain indifferent to everything
Even if they tempt you or they call you.
What is wave will pass like a wave.
Do not wish and do not worry.

What is good, and what isn't good
You ask and think about.
All is old, and all is new.
Time comes and time goes.

(1883, July 2)

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