Paul Laurence Dunbar: "Compensation"

"Compensação" (Tradução de Adriano Nunes)

Compensação

Porque amei tão intenso,
Porque amei tanto tempo,
Deus com grã compaixão
Deu-me o dom da canção.

Porque amei tão em vão,
E cantei sem ar forte,
Deus co' infindo perdão
Dá-me a graça da morte.

Paul Laurence Dunbar: "Compensation"

Compensation

Because I had loved so deeply,
Because I had loved so long,
God in His great compassion
Gave me the gift of song.

Because I have loved so vainly,
And sung with such faltering breath,
The Master in infinite mercy
Offers the boon of Death.

DUNBAR, Paul Laurence. The Collected Poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 1993.