Rima LIV

by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
translated by H. Landman


Amid the discordant uproar of the orgy
       my ears were caressed
   by a note of distant music
       the echo of a sigh.

The echo of a sigh that I knew well,
formed of a breath I have drunk,
perfume of a flower that grows dark
   in a shady cloister.

My lover-of-the-day, affectionate, asked
"What are you thinking of?"  I said:
"Nothing..." "Nothing, and you weep?" "It's just
a pleasant sadness and wine is sad."

Entre el discorde estruendo de la orgía
       acarició mi oído,
   como nota de lejana música,
       el eco de un suspiro.

El eco de un suspiro que conozco,
formado de un aliento que he bebido,
perfume de una flor que oculta crece
   en un claustro sombrío.

Mi adorada de un día, cariñosa,
“¿en qué piensas ?”, me dijo:
“En nada...” “¿En nada, y lloras?” “Es que tienes
alegre la tristeza y triste el vino”.


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Copyright ©2001,2002,2003 Howard A. Landman / howard@polyamory.org
Created 2001 November 29
Last updated 2003 August 14