THE LAST THING MEMORY IS BEST FOR Poem by Nachoem M. Wijnberg

Being able to quote
is remembering.

De toda la memoria, sólo vale
el don preclaro de evocar los sueños.

You misremember Machado as:
the only thing dreams are good for,
and another thing dreams are good for
is being able to speak to someone
when that is no longer possible.

If you were somewhere
but not alone,
you want to be the one who remembers it,
the same when you are not the only one
who has read something.

It goes so fast,
it is difficult to read,
but easy to remember.

Of all that remembering,
the only thing that is worth anything,
you misquote Machado,
who you would stand up for
if you were seated on a bus or train and there were no seats left,
but he waves you away,
he doesn't need to sit down.