Tag: Jorge Louis Borges

This is written on the wall of a shop in Oaxaca, Mexico. 

Translation (more or less):

when you love what you are

there is nothing that is unconquerable or unreachable

when you really love yourself

(here is where it gets a little lost) live only in the light of your own laughter

and travel only by the way of joy and happiness

Look up.…look way up!   and… “Don’t Lose the NOW“

This one is a photo taken of a famous poem written by Jorge Luis Borges that filled the whole ceiling of a quaint little wine bar/restaurant in historic Oaxaca where my friends and I listened to live Cuban music.  Borges, an Argentine poet, short-story writer, essayist and translator was a key figure in Spanish language literature.  His work embraces the “character of unreality in all literature.”  This is a beautiful writing and will make you think about your life:

INSTANTS

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,
Of course 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 Louis Borges