Instantes by Borges

Instantes atribuído a José Luís Boges. Per les joves companyes amb que hem treballat enguany.

Poem 'Instants' attributed to José Luís Borges or Don Herold o Nadine Stair. N2016 Cloze. Future Will. Fewer-More. Less-More

https://sites.google.com/a/xtec.cat/sib-idiomes/inputs/poems/instantes-borges

Task 1. Are you familiar with the poem 'Instantes' attributed to José Luís Borges? What do you think it might be about? Borges was 85 when he wrote it. Fill in the gaps before listening to the poem. Make it yours.

Task 2. Listen to the poem in Spanish and correct any possible discrepancies between your choices and Borges's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu9smqN-PlE

Task 3 Listen to the poem in English and check the answers again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=57&v=m55sP3_BiFg

If I could live again my life,

In the next - I'll try,- to make [fewer / more] (1)__________ mistakes,

I [will / won't] (2)__________ try to be so perfect,

I'll be [less / more] (3)__________ relaxed,

I'll be more full - than I am now,

In fact, I'll take [fewer / more] (4)__________ things seriously,

I'll be [less / more] (5)__________ hygienic,

I'll take [fewer / more] (6)__________ risks,

I'll take [fewer / more] more trips,

I'll watch more [sunsets / sunrises] (7)__________,

I'll climb more [hills / mountains] (8)__________,

I'll swim more [rivers / oceans] (9)__________,

I'll go to more places - I've [always / never] (10)__________ been,

I'll [buy / eat] (11)__________ more ice creams and less (lime) beans,

I'll have more real problems - and less imaginary ones,

I was one of those people who live

prudent and prolific lives -

each minute of his life,

Off course that I had moments of joy - but,

if I could go back I'll try to have only [good / bad] (12)__________ moments,

If you [know / don't know] (13)__________ - that’s what life is made of,

Don't lose [the now/ the then] t(14)__________!

I was one of those who [always / never] (15)__________ goes anywhere

[with / without] (16)__________ a thermometer,

without a [cold-water / hot-water] (17)__________ bottle,

and [with / without] (18)__________ an umbrella and without a parachute,

If I could live again - I will travel light,

If I could live again - I'll try to work bare feet

at the beginning of [spring / summer] (19)__________ till

the end of [autumn / winter] (20)__________,

I'll ride more carts,

I'll watch more sunrises and play with more children,

If I have the life to live - but now I am 85,

- and I [know / don't know] (21)__________ that I am dying ...

https://sites.google.com/a/xtec.cat/sib-idiomes/inputs/poems/instantes-borges

If I could (22)____________ again my life,

In the next - I'll (23)____________,

- to (24)____________ more mistakes,

I won't try to be so perfect,

I'll (25)____________ more relaxed,

I'll be more full - than I am now,

In fact, I'll take (26)____________ things seriously,

I'll be (27)____________ hygienic,

I'll (28)____________ more risks,

I'll take (29)____________ trips,

I'll (30)____________ more sunsets,

I'll (31)____________ more mountains,

I'll (32)____________ more rivers,

I'll go to more (33)____________ - I've never been,

I'll (34)____________ more ice creams and less (lime) beans,

I'll have more real problems - and less imaginary ones,

I was one of those people who (35)____________

prudent and prolific lives -

each minute of his life,

Off course that I had moments of joy - but,

if I could go back I'll (36)____________ to have only good moments,

If you don't (37)____________ - that’s what life is made of,

Don't (38)____________ the now!

I was one of those who never (39)____________ anywhere

without a thermometer,

(40)____________ a hot-water bottle,

and without an (41)____________ and without a parachute,

If I could (42)____________ again - I will travel light,

If I could live (43)____________ - I'll try to work bare feet

at the beginning of spring till

the end of autumn,

I'll (44)____________ more carts,

I'll (45)____________ more sunrises and (46)____________ with more children,

If I have the life to live - but now I am 85,

- and I know that I am (47)____________ ...

Jorge Louis Borges

ps : Borges(1899-1986) died two years later at the age of 87.

Poema Instantes atribuido a Borges

Si pudiera (48)____________ nuevamente mi vida,

en la próxima trataría de (49)____________ más errores.

No intentaría ser tan perfecto, me (50)____________ más.

Sería más tonto de lo que he sido,

de hecho tomaría muy pocas cosas con seriedad.

Sería (51)____________ higiénico.

(52)____________ más riesgos,

haría más viajes,

(53)____________ más atardeceres,

(54)____________ más montañas, (55)____________ más ríos.

Iría a más lugares adonde nunca he ido,

(56)____________ más helados y menos habas,

(57)____________ más problemas reales y menos imaginarios.

Yo fui una de esas personas que (58)____________ sensata

y prolíficamente cada minuto de su vida;

claro que (59)____________ momentos de alegría.

Pero si (60)____________ volver atrás trataría

de tener solamente buenos momentos.

Por si no lo (61)____________, de eso está hecha la vida,

sólo de momentos; no te pierdas el ahora.

Yo era uno de esos que nunca

(62)____________ a ninguna parte sin un termómetro,

una bolsa de agua caliente,

un paraguas y un paracaídas;

si pudiera volver a vivir, (63)____________ más liviano.

Si pudiera volver a vivir

(64)____________ a andar descalzo a principios

de la primavera

y seguiría descalzo hasta concluir el otoño.

Daría más vueltas en calesita,

contemplaría más (65)____________,

y (66)____________ con más niños,

si tuviera otra vez vida por delante.

Pero ya ven, tengo 85 años...

y sé que me estoy (67)____________

https://sites.google.com/a/xtec.cat/sib-idiomes/inputs/poems/instantes-borges

http://marcoele.com/descargas/6/fernandez_sipudiera.pdf

http://wordpress.danieltubau.com/instantes-de-jorge-luis-borges/