Centre for Romanian Studies

Poetry in Translation (CCCXCVI), PORTUGAL – Fernando PESSOA (1888 – 1992, Lisbon) – “The Herdsman”, “Ciobanul”

Fernando Pessoa

The Herdsman
Fernando PESSOA (1888-1935)

I’m herdsman of a flock.
The sheep are my thoughts
And my thoughts are all sensations.
I think with my eyes and my ears
And my hands and feet
And nostrils and mouth.

To think a flower is to see and smell it.
To eat a fruit is to sense its savor.

And that is why, when I feel sad,
In a day of heat, because of so much joy
And lay me down in the grass to rest
And close my sun-warmed eyes,
I feel my whole body relaxed in reality
And know the whole truth and am happy.

(Translated by Edouard Roditi)

Reprinted by permission of the Estate of Edouard Roditi.
Source: Poetry (Poetry)

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Ciobanul
Fernando PESSOA
(1888-1935, Lisabona, Portugalia)

Eu sunt ciobanul turmei.
Oile sunt gândurile mele,
Iar gândurile sunt simţirea mea.
Cuget cu ochii şi urechile,
Cu mâinile şi picioarele mele,
Cu nările şi gura.
Când mă gândesc la o floare, o văd şi-i adulmec parfumul.
Când muşc un fruct, îi incerc gustul.
De aceea, când sunt trist,
În timpul caniculei, din cauza bucuriei,
Când sunt culcat pe iarbă, să mă odihnesc
Şi închid ploapele calde de soare,
Atunci îmi simt trupul cuprins de viaţă,
Trăind adevărul adevărat şi simţindu-mă împlinit.

Rendered in Romanian by Constantin ROMAN, London,
© 2016 Copyright Constantin ROMAN

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SHORT BIO NOTE: Fernando Pessoa, born Fernando António Nogueira Pessoa (June 13, 1888 – November 30, 1935), was a Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic, translator, publisher and philosopher, described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest poets in the Portuguese language.
He also wrote in and translated from English and French.