August 14, 2004

Cosas/Things by Gabriela Mistral

Cosas

Pienso en umbral donde deje
pasos alegres que ya no llevo,
y en el umbral veo una llaga
llena de musgo y de silencio.

Me busco un verso que he perdido,
que a los siete años me dijeron.
Fue una mujer haciendo el pan
y yo su santa boca veo.

Things [my own translation]

I think of a threshold where I left
happier paths no longer tread,
and the footprints now seen
are full of moss and silence.

I look for a verse that is lost,
which at seven was told to me.
It was a woman making her bread
and her blessed mouth I still see.

Posted by Michele at August 14, 2004 01:34 AM
Comments

Well, I torture Harvey when he posts a poem, so let's see what I can come up with here ...

Things [my own version]

I remember a home I visited in the past
I've not been back yet these memories last,
The address and street I still recall
but I wonder if the house still stands at all.

The things I learned there,
the experiences we shared.
It was so fleeting - I've left it behind,
yet so permanent it all is in my mind.

Posted by: _Jon at August 14, 2004 09:29 AM