Upsoaring wings: A fundamental work

I’m closing out National Poetry Month with a poem by one of my all-time favorite writers, Primo Levi. A chemist by profession, Levi was a keen observer of life and mankind, and he had plenty to observe as a Jew in Auschwitz.

As a reminder that words matter, in all his books about his experiences during the war, Levi referred to the camps using the German word, lager. As though only the language of the architects of industrial murder is suitable for their constructs.

I’ve given you before his “Shemà”, which is a searing précis of the Holocaust. This time we’re having “Unfinished Business”, about the general human experience. It’s a somewhat different take on the stages of life than Yeats gave us in “Sailing to Byzantium”. And I think it speaks to us all.

This translation from the Italian is by Jonathan Galassi.

“Unfinished Business”

Sir, please accept my resignation

As of next month,

And, if it seems right, plan on replacing me.

I’m leaving much unfinished work,

Whether out of laziness or actual problems.

I was supposed to tell someone something,

But I no longer know what and to whom: I’ve forgotten.

I was also supposed to donate something — 

A wise word, a gift, a kiss;

I put it off from one day to the next. I’m sorry.

I’ll do it in the short time that remains.

I’m afraid I’ve neglected important clients.

I was meant to visit

Distant cities, islands, desert lands;

You’ll have to cut them from the program

Or entrust them to my successor.

I was supposed to plant trees and I didn’t;

To build myself a house,

Maybe not beautiful, but based on plans.

Mainly, I had in mind

A marvelous book, kind sir,

Which would have revealed many secrets,

Alleviated pains and fears,

Eased doubts, given many

The gift of tears and laughter.

You’ll find its outline in my drawer,

Down below, with the unfinished business;

I didn’t have the time to write it out, which is a shame,

It would have been a fundamental work.