Thursday, 10 April 2014

The Cats Will Know, by Cesare Pavese





                                                             Rain will fall again
                                                             on your smooth pavement,
                                                             a light rain like
                                                             a breath or a step.
                                                             The breeze and the dawn
                                                             will flourish again
                                                             when you return,
                                                             as if beneath your step.
                                                             Between flowers and sills
                                                             the cats will know. 

                                                             There will be other days,
                                                             there will be other voices.
                                                             You will smile alone.
                                                             The cats will know.
                                                             You will hear words
                                                             old and spent and useless
                                                             like costumes left over
                                                             from yesterday’s parties. 
 
                                                             You too will make gestures.
                                                             You’ll answer with words—
                                                             face of springtime,
                                                             you too will make gestures. 

                                                             The cats will know,
                                                             face of springtime;
                                                             and the light rain
                                                             and the hyacinth dawn
                                                             that wrench the heart of him
                                                             who hopes no more for you—
                                                             they are the sad smile
                                                             you smile by yourself. 

                                                             There will be other days,
                                                             other voices and renewals.
                                                             Face of springtime,
                                                             we will suffer at daybreak.



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