The Last Toast

Whether we like it or not,
We have only three choices:
Yesterday, today and tomorrow

And not even three
Because as the philosopher says
Yesterday is yesterday
It belongs to us only in memory:
From the rose already plucked
No more petals can be drawn.

The cards to play are only two:
The present and the future,
And there aren't even two
Because it's a known fact
The present doesn't exist
And is consumed like youth.

In the end we are only left with tomorrow
I raise my glass to the day that never arrives.
But that is all we have at our disposal.

-Nicanor Parra