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César Vallejo

            Sauce

      Lirismo de invierno, rumor de crespones,
cuando ya se acerca la pronta partida;
agoreras voces de tristes canciones
que en la tarde rezan una despedida.

      Visión del entierro de mis ilusiones
en la propia tumba de mortal herida.
Caridad verónica de ignotas regiones,
dónde a precio de éter se pierda la vida.

      Cerca de la aurora partiré llorando;
y mientras mis años se vayan curvando,
curvará guadañas mi ruta veloz.

      Y ante fríos óleos de luna muriente,
con timbres de aceros en tierra indolente,
cavarán los perros, aullando, un adíos!



                              Willow

      Winter lyricism, crepe rumor,
when already the quick good-bye draws near;
the ominous voices of sad songs,
late in the day, pray a farewell.

      Vision of the burial of my illusions
in the very tomb of mortal hurt.
Veronica-like charity from unknown regions
where, for the price of ether, life is lost.

      At dawn, I will break away, crying;
and though my years go on curving,
my swift course will curve scythes.

      And before the dying moon's cold holy oil,
in indolent earth, in tones of steel,
the dogs will dig up, howling, a good-bye!




Copyright © 2003 César Vallejo and Rebecca Seiferle

About the poet & the translator.

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Issue #32, April, 2003 :
Santa Fe Poetry Broadside.