Rima LXXII

by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
translated by H. Landman


     First voice

The waves have vague harmony,
the violets sweet scent,
mists of silver the cold night,
     light and gold the day;
     I have something better:
     I have Love!

     Second voice

Dawn of applause, rabid cloud,
waves of envy that kiss your feet,
isle of dreams where the anxious
     soul finds rest.
     sweet rapture
     is Glory!

     Third voice

Burning embers are the treasure,
fleeting shadow the vanity,
all is lies: the glory, the gold.
     The only thing that I
     adore in truth:
     is Liberty!

Thus the boatmen went on singing
     the eternal song,
and the spray leapt to the pounding of oars
     and stung like the sun.

"Getting on?", they shouted, and I smiling
     told them in passing:
"some time ago I did, but now my clothes
are still spread out on the beach to dry."

     Primera voz

Las ondas tienen vaga armonía,
Las violetas suave olor,
brumas de plata la noche fría,
     luz y oro el día;
     yo algo mejor:
     ¡yo tengo Amor!

     Segunda voz

Aura de aplausos, nube rabiosa,
ola de envidia que besa el pie.
isla de sueños donde reposa
     el alma ansiosa.
     ¡dulce embriaguez
     la Gloria es!

     Tercera voz

Ascua encendida es el tesoro,
sombra que huye la vanidad,
todo es mentira: la gloria, el oro.
     Lo que yo adoro
     sólo es verdad:
     ¡la Libertad!

Así los barqueros pasaban cantando
     la eterna canción,
y al golpe del remo saltaba la espuma
     y heríala el sol.

“¿Te embarcas?”, gritaban, y yo sonriendo
     les dije al pasar:
“ha tiempo lo hice, por cierto que aun tengo
la ropa en la playa tendida a secar.


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Copyright ©2001,2003 Howard A. Landman / howard@polyamory.org
Created 2001 December 3
Last updated 2003 August 15