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.
Translation: Copyright © Timothy Adès
More poems by Alfonso Reyes...
First of all our silences
Und so ist unser erstes Schweigen
Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926)
Und so ist unser erstes Schweigen
Und so ist unser erstes Schweigen ...
wir schenken uns dem Wind zu eigen,
und zitternd werden wir zu Zweigen
und horchen in den Mai hinein.
Da ist ein Schatten auf den Wegen,
wir lauschen, - und es rauscht ein Regen:
ihm wächst die ganze Welt entgegen,
um seiner Gnade nah zu sein.
First of all our silences
First of all our silences…
we surrender to the breeze,
quiver, now we’re tips of trees,
hark attentively to May.
Shadows fall across the lane,
we give ear… we hear the rain:
all the world with might and main
seeks the mercies, finds its way.
Translation: Copyright © Timothy Adès
More poems by Rainer Maria Rilke...
Listen, And Wonder
Vor lauter Lauschen
Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926)
Vor lauter Lauschen
Vor lauter Lauschen und Staunen sei still,
du mein tieftiefes Leben;
daß du weißt, was der Wind dir will,
eh noch die Birken beben.
Und wenn dir einmal das Schweigen sprach,
laß deine Sinne besiegen.
Jedem Hauche gib dich, gib nach,
er wird dich lieben und wiegen.
Und dann meine Seele sei weit, sei weit,
daß dir das Leben gelinge,
breite dich wie ein Feierkleid
über die sinnenden Dinge.
Listen, And Wonder
Listen, and wonder, and only stay
silent, my life deep down:
before the wind makes the birches sway,
what it bodes for you shall be known.
When once the silence has spoken to you,
let your own senses prevail.
Give to each breath, make a gift of you,
each breath shall love you and lull.
And then O my soul, be broad, be broad,
till your life fulfilment brings:
like a festive garment, be glad to spread
over all sentient things.
Translation: Copyright © Timothy Adès
More poems by Rainer Maria Rilke...
On First Looking into Chapman's Translation
On First Looking Into Chapman’s Homer
John Keats (1795-1821)
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.
Translation: Copyright © Timothy Adès
More poems by John Keats...