THE BEST OF YOURSELF

From now on, you will keep only joy Of what remains sublime in your memory The sorrows perhaps of some evenings But in the autumn that shudders You'll only keep the best of yourself You'll look back on those years with envy The one who suddenly, it's true, flee Those of tomorrow still uncertain But in the autumn that smiles You will finally look at what has made your life You will keep only the breaths and the desires That have often walked through your skin When your heart was calling the shots But in the autumn that begins You'll only keep love and dancing You'll look at the road still to be done Without ceasing to love its detours and mysteries In this time that remains before our eyes When the autumn that shudders Scratches our skins but never our happy days You will keep only joy Of what remains sublime in your memory The sorrows perhaps of some evenings But in the autumn that shudders You'll only keep the best of yourself