Cunosc adevărul...

A gândi o floare înseamnă a o vedea şi a o mirosi
Iar a mânca un fruct înseamnă a-i cunoaşte gustul.

Iată de ce în zile cu zăpuşeală când
Mă simt trist de cât de mult mă bucur,
Şi când mă tolănesc în iarbă cât sunt de lung,
Şi închid ochii înfierbântaţi,
Îmi simt tot corpul întins peste realitate,
Cunosc adevărul şi-s fericit.

(Fernando Pessoa)

Is a celebration more beautiful because it lasts longer?

(Self Portrait on 6th Wedding Anniversary)

As I was painting today, some thoughts came to me and I want to write them down for the people I love. I know I shall not live very long. But I wonder, is that sad? Is a celebration more beautiful because it lasts longer? And my life is a celebration, a short, intense celebration. My powers of perception are becoming finer, as if I were supposed to absorb everything in the few years that are still to be offered me, everything. My sense of smell is unbelievably keen at present. With almost every breath I take, I get a new sense and understanding of the linden tree, of ripened wheat, of hay, and of mignonette. I suck everything up into me. And if only now love would blossom for me, before I depart; and if I can paint three good pictures, then I shall go gladly, with flowers in my hair.

Paula Modersohn-Becker, July 26, 1900.

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