So you plant your own gardens and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
[Así que uno planta su propio jardín y decora su propia alma, en lugar de esperar a que alguien le traiga flores.]
Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) Argentine writer
Poem (1940s), “You Learn [Aprendiendo]” (Attributed)
(Source)
(Source (Spanish)).
Also titled as "Comes the Dawn" and "After a While". This line, when given on its own, is often elided as "Plant your own ..." or "So plant your own ..."
These lines appear to be from a poem "Aprendiendo" (or "Uno Aprende" or "Con El Tiempo"), said to be written by Borges in Spanish in the 1940s, and possibly translated to English in the late 60s/early 70s while Borges was lecturing in the US.
The English version first came to light in 1992 with an inquiry to the Ann Landers syndicated advice column about an anonymous poem found at a craft store.
Since the association of that English version to Borges, many have (sometimes vehemently) questioned Borges' authorship (due to stylistic differences from his other work). Others have claimed credit, most prominently Veronica A. Shoftstall (who said she had written the English version at age 19 in 1971, and who has since copyrighted it). The Spanish version has also been attributed to Columbian poet Yamira Hernandez. The English has even been attributed to Shakespeare, because why not?
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