Silencio / Silence

Categories
Spanish

Silencio / Silence

Alfonso Reyes (1889-1959)

Escojo la voz más tenue para maldecir del trueno, como la miel más delgada para triaca del veneno. En la corola embriagada del más’efímero sueño, interrogo las astucias del desquite contra el tiempo, y a la barahunda opongo el escogido silencio. No es menos luz la centella por cegar sólo un momento, ni es desamor el amor que enmudece por intenso. Cada vez menos palabras; y cada palabra, un verso; cada poema, un latido; cada latido, universo. Esfera ya reducida a la norma de su centro, es inmortal el instante y lo fugitivo eterno. Flecha que clavó el destino, aunque presuma de vuelo, déjate dormir, canción, que ya duraste un exceso.
Silencio / Silence
This voice is most slender, my choice to curse thunder, as honey most tender is physic for venom. In a bud that is primed on ephemeral dream, I inquire into ploys to get even with time; I counter the noise with silence, my choice. No less Light is the spark that is dark for a moment and love is still love by intensity silent. Each time, fewer words; and each word, a verse; each poem, a pulse; each pulse, universe. A sphere now reduced to the span of its kernel, the moment’s immortal, the fleeting’s eternal. So sleep now, my song, you’re a dart that fate nailed, whose flight–plan has failed; you’ve lasted too long.
Published in Acumen 52, May 2005

Translation: Copyright © Timothy Adès

More poems by Alfonso Reyes...

On First Looking into Chapman's Translation

On First Looking Into Chapman’s Homer

John Keats (1795-1821)

My lipogram, no letter E
On First Looking Into Chapman’s Homer
Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold, And many goodly states and kingdoms seen; Round many western islands have I been Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold. Oft of one wide expanse had I been told That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne; Yet did I never breathe its pure serene Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: Then felt I like some watcher of the skies When a new planet swims into his ken; Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes He star'd at the Pacific—and all his men Look'd at each other with a wild surmise— Silent, upon a peak in Darien.
On First Looking into Chapman's Translation
I got around, saw lots of lands of gold, Good kingdoms, many a top–class duchy too, And sundown islands (I was shooting through) Which bards as loan–stock from Apollo hold. On various occasions I was told About an old blind highbrow’s Timbuctoo: But always was as ignorant as you, Until Dan Chapman said it loud and bold. That did it! Say you watch a midnight sky: An unknown rock floats up into your bag! Or stout Balboa’s sharp rapacity Scans your Pacific, plants a Spanish flag, His troops agog with curiosity, Dumbstruck upon a Panamanian crag.
Said at Poet in the City Drop–in, Daunts Bookshop, Piccadilly, London, W1. Contributed to Poetry Atlas website.

Translation: Copyright © Timothy Adès

More poems by John Keats...