Mario Benedetti: Slowly but surely

The future's coming slowly
slowly
but surely

right now it's hidden beyond
the surly clouds
and some still invisible
nimble heights
beyond the thunder's roar
and the spider's web

it's taking its time
like a determined flower
keeping track of the sun

perhaps that's why
daily life
prepares to greet it
settling exorbitant debts
opening new chapters in memory

but the future's
in no hurry
it's coming
slowly
finally bringing relief
bread for the hungry
battered angles
faithful swallows

slow
but not half-hearted

neither smug
nor a spoilsport
it's simply
coming
with its sharpened blade
and weighing scales
inquiring first
about our dreams
then our homelands
our latent memories
and our newborns

slowly
the future's coming
with its mondays and marches
its clenched fists and dark-ringed eyes and prjoects
slowly but swiftly
like a dim
still unnamed star

convalescent and slow
sheepish
proud
so very modest
that well-versed future we're shaping
we
and chance
but more and more we
less and less chance.

(translation by Louise B. Popkin)