Rima X

by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
translated by Howard A. Landman


Los invisibles átomos del aire
en derredor palpitan y se inflaman;
el cielo se deshace en rayos de oro;
la tierra se estremece alborozada;
Oigo flotando en olas de armonía
rumor de besos y batir de alas,
mis párpados se cierran...¿Qué sucede?
¿Dime?... ¡Silencio!... ¿Es el amor que pasa?
The invisible atoms of the air
rub together and become aroused;
the sky dissolves in rays of gold;
the Earth quivers in delight;
floating in waves of harmony I hear
murmurs of kisses and beating of wings,
my eyelids are closed... What's going on?
What's it saying?... Ssh!... Is it love?


Translations by others:


The invisible atoms of the air
Palpitate 'round me all on fire;
The heavens break up in rays of gold,
And the earth trembles with delight.
There floats on waves of harmony
The sounds of kisses and beating wings.
My eyelids close - oh! what is happening?
    'Tis love that passes.

Translated by Owen Innsly
Copyright ©1882 by A. Williams & Company

The unseen atoms of the air,
Inflamed, are dancing round about;
The sky dissolves in flashes rare
Of trembling gold, a dazzling rout;
The earth appears with rapture buoyed
And vibrates as if overjoyed;
The sounds come stealing o'er to me
Of strange, delightful harmony;
I hear the sound of kisses, - feel
The fluttering of wings, - I reel
And close my eyelids! - Who is nigh?
- 'T is Eros, who is passing by.

Translated by Jules Renard
Copyright ©1908 by Richard G. Badger



The particles invisible of air
Around me quiver and vehemently glow;
The heavens burth forth in rays of golden light;
All earth doth tremble in a joyour throe.
Floating in waves of harmony I hear
A stir of kisses and of wings on high;
Mine eyelids close themselves ... What passes now?
"'Tis love goes by!"

Translated by Young Allison
Copyright ©1924 by Young Allison

The invisible atoms of air
Are kindled, and rush to and fro;
The rays of the sun, like the hair
Of his golden head, tumble and glow;
The breezes are laughing, and rush
With the weight of a kiss through the sky;
What does it portend to us? - Hush! 'Tis love that goes by.

Translated by Rupert Croft-Cooke
Copyright ©1927 by Rupert Croft-Cooke



The quivering, unseen atoms of air
Are aglow with warmth, and all the sky
Dissolves in molten rays of gold.
Laughter shakes the earth; the sigh
Of kisses and wings comes floating down
On waves of harmony from on high.
My eyes are closed ... what can it be?
    Love is passing by!

Translated by Alice Jane McVan
Copyright date unknown (reprinted 1938)


Next(Rima XI) Previous(Rima IX) Becquer's Rimas Howard's poetry page Howard's home page

Copyright ©2001-2004 Howard A. Landman / howard@polyamory.org
Created 2001 November 18
Last updated 2004 May 20