While the Greek Music Lasts
Sunday, June 25, 2017
I have written before here on the idea of associating the
beautiful face of a woman with
that of Helen of Troy. Now there is this haunting portrait of my friend from
the old Railway Club in Vancouver called Caroline Matthews. She had that face-
a face of seemingly impossible and exquisite beauty. Her voice was just right
and her smiles genuine. How could one person be all that? She wore miniskirts
and many times when we arrived for our Thursday lunches with journalists,
photographer, illustrators, writers and artists she would be up on a stepladder
watering the plants by the long window. I can attest to the given of her
shapely legs, etc.
This
time around I wanted to find a reference to Helen of Troy that I had not used before.
The poem by Jorge Luís Borges below is lovely but alas there is no translation.
It is about Greek music. It is neat and timely that today, two blocks from our
Kitsilano house, they are celebrating Greek Day on West Broadway.
The poem
begins:
While
the music lasts we will deserve the love of Helen of Troy
Música
griega – Jorge Luís Borges
Mientras dure esta música,
seremos dignos del amor de Helena de Troya.
Mientras dure esta música,
seremos dignos de haber muerto en Arbela.
Mientras dure esta música,
creeremos en el libre albedrío,
esa ilusión de cada instante.
Mientras dure esta música,
sabremos que la nave de Ulises volverá a
Itaca.
Mientras dure esta música,
seremos la palabra y la espada.
Mientras dure esta música,
seremos dignos del cristal y de la caoba,
de la nieve y del mármol.
Mientras dure esta música,
seremos dignos de las cosas comunes,
que ahora no lo son.
Mientras dure esta música,
seremos en el aire la flecha.
Mientras dure esta música,
creeremos en la misericordia del lobo
y en la justicia de los justos.
Mientras dure esta música,
mereceremos tu gran voz Walt Whitman.
Mientras dure esta música,
mereceremos haber visto, desde una cumbre,
la tierra prometida. -
