Pilgrim's Progress

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS

It's there alright
It's certainly there
but you'll never reach it
actually get there
You can motor up the road
part of the way
but it stops a long way short
It's possible
to walk along the footpath
for quite a good distance
as far as the bottom of the hill
You can climb the hill
if it suits you
and scramble down the other side
If you are very very careful
you might pick your way
across the peat bog
and over the quicksand
but even then you'll not be there
If you get across the river
as you just well might
then perhaps you'd be almost there
But...

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Ackworth, 1st December 1968

Publications

1986 Periaktos (UK)
1988 Envoi (UK)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)

*****
O PROGRESSO DOS PEREGRINOS

Estaô laô mesmo
Estaô laô certamente
mas nunca se alcanòóÒa
na verdade, chegar ateô laô.
Pode-se subir a estrada de carro
parte do caminho
mas para-se longe de chegar
E' possiôvel
caminhaiô pelo trilho
por longa distaÔncia
ateô ao peô da montanha
Pode-se subir a montanha
se puder mesmo
e voltar pelo outro lado
Se se eô cuidadoso
pode-se ateô escolher o caminho
atraveôs do musgo
ou sobre a areia movediòóÒa
mas mesmo assim naÓo se chega ateô laô
Se se vai atravessando o rio
se assim quiser
entaÓo talvez se chegue ateô perto
Mas ...

GERALD ENGLAND.

translated by Teresinka Pereira

Publication

1987 International Poetry (USA