Okay, since we're doing the poetry slam round-robin, here's one of my favorites, first in English, then in Spanish, the language in which it was written.


Gacela of Unforeseen Love
by
Federico Garcia Lorca

No one understood the perfume
of the dark magnolia of your womb.
No one knew that you tormented
a hummingbird of love between your teeth.

A thousand Persian ponies fell asleep
in the moonlit plaza of your forehead,
while through four nights I embraced
your waist, enemy of the snow.

Between plaster and jasmines, your glance
was a pale branch of seeds.
I sought in my heart to give you
the ivory letters that say always,

always, always: garden of my agony,
your body elusive always,
the blood of your veins in my mouth,
your mouth already lightless for my death.

...translation by W.S. Merwin
-----------------------------
Gacela Del Amor Imprevisto

Nadie comprendia el perfume
de la oscura magnolia de tu vientre.
Nadie sabia que martirizabas
uncolibri de amor entre los dientes.

Mil caballitos persas se dormian
en la plaza con luna de tu frente,
mientras que yo enlazaba cuatro noches
tu cintura, enemiga de la nieve.

Entre yeso y jazmines, tu mirada
era un palido ramo de simientes.
Yo busque, para darte, por mi pecho
las letras de marfil que dicen siempre,

siempre, siempre: jardin de mi agonia,
tu cuerpo fugitivo para simpre,
la sangre de tus venas en mi boca,
tu boca ya sin luz para mi muerte.


When you see this, post poetry in your journal.

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2003 - 2004 m. lucas