THE BUTTERFLY / FLUTURELE

POSTED IN classic poetry May 18, 2022

THE BUTTERFLY / FLUTURELE

The butterfly, an idle thing,
Nor honey makes, nor yet can sing,
— As do the bee and bird;
Nor does it, like the prudent ant,
Lay up the grain for times of want,
— A wise and cautious hoard.

My youth is but a summer’s day:
Then like the bee and ant I’ll lay
— A store of learning by;
And though from flower to flower I rove,
My stock of wisdom I’ll improve,
— Nor be a butterfly.

 

ADELAIDE O’KEEFE

……………

FLUTURELE

Flutur, hoinar fara de tinta
Miere nu face, nici nu canta.
– Cum fac-albina, pasarea;
Nici ca furnica truditoare
Nu strange pentru vremi amare.
– Tezaur este firea.

Junetea-i zi de vara, mica:
Apoi albina si furnica,
– Oi strange-nvatatura doar:
Și chiar de zbor din floare-n floare,
Intelepciunea-mi va fi mare,
– Nu fluture hoinar.

trad. M. M. Biela