Santa Fe Poetry Broadside skip navigation links
Issue #32, April, 2003 : -- -1 -2 -3  4 -5 -6 -7 -8 -9 -10 -11
Return -- Previous -- Next

César Vallejo

            Bordas de hielo

      Vengo a verte pasar todos los días,
vaporcito encantado siempre lejos.....
Tus ojos son dos rubios capitanes;
tu labio es un brevísimo pañuelo
rojo que ondea en un adíos de sangre!

      Vengo a verte pasar; hasta que un día,
embriagada de tiempo y de crueldad,
vaporcito encantado siempre lejos,
la estrella de la tarde partirá!

      Las jarcias; vientos que traicionan; vientos
de mujer que pasó!
Tus fríos capitanes darán orden;
y quien habrá partido seré yo....!


                              Gunwhales of Ice

      Every day I come to watch you pass by,
enchanted little steamship, always so distant....
Your eyes are two blond captains;
your lip is the briefest red handkerchief
that waves a good-by of blood!

      I come to watch you pass by; until that day,
when drunk on time and cruelty,
enchanted little steamship, always so distant,
the evening star will leave!

      The riggings; winds that betray; winds
of woman that passed by!
Your frigid captains will give the order;
and I'll be the one who’s gone...!




Copyright © 2003 César Vallejo and Rebecca Seiferle

About the poet & the translator.

skip to next poem
Return -- Previous -- Next
Issue #32, April, 2003 :
Santa Fe Poetry Broadside.