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THE WHITE PAGE / LA PAGINA BLANCA

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Some Spanish-American Poets
This chapter is in the book Some Spanish-American Poets
198 Some Spanish-American Poets THE WHITE PAGE IT was the hour of dreams. In front of me A snow-white page outspread I seemed to see. And a procession came of dreams and shades: Women like statues passed before my sight, Women with faces as of marble pale, So sad, so sweet, so gentle and so white. And visions of strange poems glided by— Strange poems made of kisses and of tears, And stories that in cruel instants leave Men's hair as white as with the flight of years. What casques of snow Fate places on our heads, And what precocious wrinkles on the face! How the slow camels of the caravan She seeks to goad into a quicker pace! The slow-paced camels—like the figures dark In some strange panorama, see them glide Across the white page spread before my sight As if it were a snowy desert wide! One bears a load of ancient griefs and woes, Griefs of the nations, woes of races dumb— The griefs and sorrows that the Christs endure Who to this world of tragic victims come. One bears the chest the Queen of Sheba brings, A coffer full of dreams and pearls and gold; And one a casket where Hope's corpse is laid Like a dead lily, mournful now and cold. And on a dromedary journeys past, Clad in dark robes moved by no breeze's breath, The queen invincible, the pallid queen, The beauty all inviolate, pale Death. And man—who is assailed by visions grim, And 'mid the constellations overhead Sees marvels that perturb his wondering soul And signs that fill his trembling heart with dread— Looks on the dromedary where it comes— A vision passing o'er a phantom stage—
© 2016 University of Pennsylvania Press, 3905 Spruce Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4112

198 Some Spanish-American Poets THE WHITE PAGE IT was the hour of dreams. In front of me A snow-white page outspread I seemed to see. And a procession came of dreams and shades: Women like statues passed before my sight, Women with faces as of marble pale, So sad, so sweet, so gentle and so white. And visions of strange poems glided by— Strange poems made of kisses and of tears, And stories that in cruel instants leave Men's hair as white as with the flight of years. What casques of snow Fate places on our heads, And what precocious wrinkles on the face! How the slow camels of the caravan She seeks to goad into a quicker pace! The slow-paced camels—like the figures dark In some strange panorama, see them glide Across the white page spread before my sight As if it were a snowy desert wide! One bears a load of ancient griefs and woes, Griefs of the nations, woes of races dumb— The griefs and sorrows that the Christs endure Who to this world of tragic victims come. One bears the chest the Queen of Sheba brings, A coffer full of dreams and pearls and gold; And one a casket where Hope's corpse is laid Like a dead lily, mournful now and cold. And on a dromedary journeys past, Clad in dark robes moved by no breeze's breath, The queen invincible, the pallid queen, The beauty all inviolate, pale Death. And man—who is assailed by visions grim, And 'mid the constellations overhead Sees marvels that perturb his wondering soul And signs that fill his trembling heart with dread— Looks on the dromedary where it comes— A vision passing o'er a phantom stage—
© 2016 University of Pennsylvania Press, 3905 Spruce Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4112

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. INTRODUCTION VII
  3. INTRODUCCIÓN XI
  4. FOREWORD BY THE TRANSLATOR XV
  5. PRÓLOGO DE LA TRADUCTORA XIX
  6. PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION XXII
  7. CONTENTS XXIII
  8. TABLAS DE MATERIAS XXXIII
  9. MEXICO
  10. DEAD WAVES / ONDAS MUERTAS 2
  11. EPHEMERA / EFIMERAS 6
  12. SOULS AND BIRDS / ALMAS Υ AYES 10
  13. WHITENESS / DE BLANCO 12
  14. TO AN UNKNOWN GODDESS / IGNOTA DEA 16
  15. IN THE COUNTRY / EN EL CAMPO 22
  16. LONGING / DESEO 22
  17. PAX ANIMAE / PAX ANIMAE 24
  18. To THE WIFE OF THE CORREGIDOR / A LA CORREGIDORA 30
  19. SISTER WATER 34
  20. IF A THORN WOUNDS ME / SI UNA ESPINA ME HIERE 50
  21. EVOCATION / EVOCACION 50
  22. LIMPIDITY / LIMPIDEZ 52
  23. THE DAISIES / EN LAS NOCHES DE ABRIL 54
  24. I WAS BORN TODAY / HOY HE NACIDO 54
  25. TO LEONORA / A LEONOR 56
  26. TO THE CLOUD / DEPRECACION A LA NUBE 58
  27. DEATH / OH MUERTE! 58
  28. DEITY / DEIDAD 60
  29. THE DARK GALLEY / LA GALERA SOMBRIA 62
  30. GRIEF VANQUISHED / EL DOLOR VENCIDO 62
  31. THE GIFT / EL DON 64
  32. REVENGE / VENGANZA 64
  33. ECSTASY / EXTASIS 66
  34. WITCHCRAFT / HECHICERIA 68
  35. ON THE LAKE / EN EL LAGO 68
  36. ASCENSION / ASCENCION 70
  37. BIRDS / AVES 70
  38. THE TRIUMPH OF THE BLUE / EL TRIUNFO DEL AZUL 72
  39. SPARE THE NESTS / PIEDAD PARA LOS NIDOS 74
  40. THE MASS AT DAWN / LA MISA DEL ALBA 76
  41. A SUNNY MORNING / MAÑANA DE SOL 92
  42. THE LAST SUNSET / ULTIMA PUESTA DE SOL 94
  43. TO RICARDO CASTRO / Α RICARDO CASTRO 96
  44. TO A FRIEND FAR AWAY / A UNA AMIGA LEJANA 98
  45. THE SOWER OF STARS / EL SEMBRADOR DE ESTRELLAS 100
  46. THE PRAYER OF THE BARREN ROCK / LA PLEGARIA DE LA ROCA ESTERIL 102
  47. A HIDDEN SPRING / FUENTE OCULTA 104
  48. LIKE BROTHER AND SISTER / COMO HERMANA Υ HERMANO 106
  49. TO A STONE BY THE WAYSIDE / A UNA PIEDRA DEL CAMINO 108
  50. THREE BIRDS / BAJO E L HUERTO SOLEMNE 110
  51. TO THE SPIRIT OF THE TREE / AL ESPIRITU DEL ARBOL 112
  52. DO YOU REMEMBER? / ¿TE ACUERDAS? 114
  53. TO THE TRAVELLER / AL VIAJERO 116
  54. THE DEAD REBEL / EN LA MUERTE DE JOSE SABAS DE LA MORA 116
  55. SNOW-FLAKE / COPO DE NIEVE 118
  56. TO PITY / A PIEDAD 120
  57. ENVY / ASONANCIAS 121
  58. THE CLOUD / LA NUBE 122
  59. A SONG OF HANDS / BALADA DE LAS MANOS 122
  60. TO SOME VIOLETS / A UNAS VIOLETAS 126
  61. REMEMBRANCE / REMEMBRANZA 128
  62. THE SONG BY THE WAY / LA CANCION DEL CAMINO 128
  63. NIHIL / NIHIL 130
  64. WITHOUT WORDS / SIN PALABRAS 134
  65. MY DREAM / MI SUEÑO 136
  66. THE RIVER / EL RIO 140
  67. THE BELL / LA CAMPANA 140
  68. TO CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS / A CRISTOBAL COLON 142
  69. SONNET / SONETOS 148
  70. ROUNDELS / REDONDILLAS 150
  71. TO THE MARTYRED POET JUAN DIAZ COVARRUBIAS / AL POETA MARTIR JUAN DIAZ COVARRUBIAS 154
  72. THE LAST OF THE AZTECS / EL ULTIMO AZTECA 156
  73. SAD SONG / SAD SONG 162
  74. PRISMATIC LIGHTS / LUCES DEL PRISMA 163
  75. THE HOUSE / LA CASA 164
  76. THE WELL / EL POZO 166
  77. THE CYPRESS / CIPRES 166
  78. ROMANCE / ROMANCE 166
  79. THE POET / LA BALADA DEL POETA 168
  80. CLEAR WATER / CLARIDAD MILAGROSA 170
  81. OLD SEA WOLF / VIEJO LOBO DE MAR 172
  82. LOVE’S LANGUAGE / RIMAS 174
  83. MY FOUNTAIN / MI FUENTE 176
  84. MY MOUNTAINS / MIS MONTAÑAS 176
  85. NICARAGUA
  86. STORIES OF THE CID / COSAS DEL CID 182
  87. SONG OF THE PINES / LA CANCION DE LOS PINOS 184
  88. SONNET TO CERVANTES / UN SONETO A CERVANTES 188
  89. SLINGS / HONDAS 188
  90. A SHELL / CARACOL 190
  91. THE PRINCESS AND THE STAR / A MARGAHITA DEBAYLE 192
  92. THE WHITE PAGE / LA PAGINA BLANCA 198
  93. A SONG OF HOPE / CANTO DE ESPERANZA 200
  94. THE EAGLE AND THE DRY LEAF / EL AGUILA Y LA HOJA 202
  95. PERU
  96. SUN AND MOON / SOL Υ LUNA 206
  97. ARCHÆOLOGY / ARQUEOLOGIA 206
  98. HORN OF PLENTY / CORNUCOPIA 208
  99. THE MAGNOLIA / LA MAGNOLIA 208
  100. THE ANDES / LOS ANDES 210
  101. THE BOA-CONSTRICTOR’S DREAM / EL SUEÑO DEL BOA 212
  102. THE ALLIGATOR’S DREAM / EL SUENO DEL CAIMAN 212
  103. THE CONDOR’S DREAM / EL SUEÑO DEL CONDOR 214
  104. THE ORCHIDS / LAS ORQUIDEAS 214
  105. THE VOLCANOS / LOS VOLCANES 216
  106. THE QUENA / LA QUEÑA 216
  107. THE MOUTHS OF THE ORINOCO / LAS BOCAS DEL ORINOCO 218
  108. THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN / EL ESTRECHO DE MACALLANES 218
  109. A QUEEN’S BREAST / SENO DE REINA 220
  110. THE WINDMILLS / LOS MOLINOS 222
  111. EAGLES AND SPARROWS / AGUILAS Y GORRIONES 222
  112. A PROTEST / PROTESTA 224
  113. THE LARK / LA ALONDRA 224
  114. LIGHTNING / EL RAYO 226
  115. SUN AND DUST / INDIGNACION 228
  116. BEFORE THE LOOKING-GLASS / DELANTE DEL ESPEJO 230
  117. CHILE
  118. HYMN TO THE TREE / HIMNO AL ARBOL 236
  119. TO THE CHILDREN / Α LOS NINOS 240
  120. THE ENEMY / LA ENEMIGA 240
  121. THE JARS / LAS ANFORAS 244
  122. VESSELS / VASOS 246
  123. THIRST / L A SED 247
  124. THE THISTLE / EL CARDO 248
  125. PRAYER FOR THE NEST / PLEGARIA POR EL NIDO 252
  126. THE THORN-TREE / EL ESPINO 252
  127. THE SAD MOTHER / LA MADRE TRISTE 254
  128. POEMS OF THE HOME / POEMAS DEL HOGAR 256
  129. WHITE CLOUDS / NUBES BLANCAS 262
  130. LITTLE FEET / PIECECITOS 264
  131. LITTLE HANDS / MANITAS 266
  132. THE CHILDREN DANCE / RONDAS DE NIÑOS 267
  133. LAZARUS / LAZARO 278
  134. OUR MOUNTAIN / NUESTRA MONTAÑA 286
  135. MUSIC IN THE SQUARE / MUSICA EN LA PLAZA 290
  136. CAIN / CAIN 293
  137. THE RIVER / EL RIO 294
  138. THE WIND / EL VIENTO 296
  139. HYMN TO LOVE / HIMNO AL AMOR 298
  140. IN THE MASTER’S FOOTSTEPS / LAS HUELLAS DEL MAESTRO 302
  141. THE CHARM OF THE RAINS / ENCANTO DE LAS LLUVIAS 304
  142. EVENING / VESPERTINA 304
  143. TO MANUEL RODRIGUEZ / A MANUEL RODRIGUEZ 306
  144. TO THE OLD GUITAR / A LA VLEJA GUITARRA 306
  145. THE CHRIST OF THE ANDES / ORACION EN LA MONTAÑA 308
  146. ARGENTINA
  147. THE CONDOR’S NEST / EL NIDO DE CONDORES 314
  148. A MESSAGE / MENSAJE 326
  149. THE PALM-TREE / LA PALMERA 328
  150. SERENADE / SERENATA 330
  151. TO THEE / A TI 332
  152. HOW THE MOUNTAINS TALK / COMO HABLAN EN LAS CIMAS 332
  153. FOR THEE / PARA TI 338
  154. THE OMBÚ / EL OMBU 338
  155. SANTOS VEGA / SANTOS VEGA 348
  156. COLUMBUS / COLON 378
  157. A FLOWER OF THE SOUL / UNA FLOR DEL ALMA 382
  158. TEARS / LAGRIMA 384
  159. SONG OF THE GENERAL STRIKE / LA CANCION DE LA HUELGA GENERAL 386
  160. YOU AND I / TU Y YO 386
  161. THE PIETY OF THE CYPRESS / LA PIEDAD DEL CIPRES 390
  162. SHE WHO UNDERSTANDS / LA QUE COMPRENDE 390
  163. VERY FAR AHEAD / MOLTISSIMO PIU AVANTI ANCORA! 392
  164. COLOMBIA
  165. TO BOLIVAR / A BOLIVAR 394
  166. WOMAN / LA MUJER 394
  167. THE TWO AMERICAS / LAS DOS AMERICAS 396
  168. SERENADE / SERENATA 402
  169. STARS / ESTRELLAS 402
  170. THE DAY OF THE DEAD / DIA DE DIFUNTOS 404
  171. TO THE ANDES / A LOS ANDES 412
  172. SHE / ELLA 414
  173. WORDS OF THE LAST INCA / EN BOCA DEL ULTIMO INCA 414
  174. LOVE’S MESSAGES / CUANDO LEJOS 416
  175. DANGER / CUENTAN QUE UN REY 418
  176. THE BEE / LA ABEJA 418
  177. A SKETCH / PINCELADAS 420
  178. IN PURSUIT OF THE DREAM / EN POS DEL ENSUEÑO 420
  179. VENEZUELA
  180. WITHIN THE HEART/ CORAZON ADENTRO 428
  181. THE FLIGHT OF PSYCHE / VUELO DE PSIQUIS 434
  182. A LITTLE MESSENGER DOVE / PALOMITA MENSAJERA 434
  183. INVITATION TO LOVE / INVITACION AL AMOR 436
  184. THE INEVITABLE / LO INEVITABLE 436
  185. TO THE BIO-BIO / AL BIOBIO 438
  186. THE CYPRESS / EL CIPRES 442
  187. URUGUAY
  188. THE HOUSE ON THE MOUNTAIN / LA CASA DE LA MONTAÑA 444
  189. THE MOTHER’S FAREWELL / CANCION DE CUNA 444
  190. THE SWEET MIRACLE / EL DULCE MILAGRO 448
  191. I AM A TREE / YO SOY UN ARBOL 450
  192. BOLIVIA
  193. INNER LANDSCAPES / LOS PAISAJES INTERIORES 454
  194. THE ANCESTORS / LOS ANTEPASADOS 456
  195. THE IDOL / EL IDOLO 460
  196. DEW / ROCIO 462
  197. ECUADOR
  198. THE TREE / EL ARBOL 464
  199. PARAGUAY
  200. YOUR SOUL / TU ALMA 468
  201. THE PARAGUAYAN WOMAN / LA MUJER ΡARAGUAYA 470
  202. GUATEMALA
  203. HUMAN WOLVES / LOS HOMBRES LOBOS 474
  204. MY SISTER / LA HERMANA 476
  205. HONDURAS
  206. BLUE EYES / OJOS AZULES 478
  207. COSTA RICA
  208. THE BRIGHT STAR / EL LUCERO 480
  209. CONDORS’ EYES / OJOS DE CONDORES 480
  210. SALVADOR
  211. THE MOCKING-BIRD AND I / EL SINSONTE Υ YO 484
  212. CUBA
  213. TO THE SUN / AL SOL 486
  214. ON LEAVING CUBA / AL PARTIR 490
  215. THE SINGING ROSE / ROSA LIRICA 490
  216. SONG / CANTAR 494
  217. THE CUBAN DANCE / LA DANZA CUBANA 494
  218. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL / LA MAS FERMOSA 498
  219. THE SPANISH TONGUE / NUESTRO IDIOMA 498
  220. SANTO DOMINGO
  221. WOULD I WERE THY MIRROR / QUIEN FUERA TU ESPEJO 502
  222. THE ROSES OF MY ROSE TREE / LAS ROSAS DE MR ROSAL 502
  223. THE BELLS RING “GLORIA” 506
  224. BROKEN WINGS / ALAS ROTAS 508
  225. THE GLORY OF PROGRESS / LA GLORIA DEL PROGRESO 508
  226. THE BIRD IN THE NEST / EL AVE Υ EL NIDO 514
  227. PORTO RICO
  228. PORTO RICO / PUERTO RICO 516
  229. THE MOUNTAINS KNOW / LO SABEN LAS MONTAÑAS 520
  230. PANAMA
  231. THE IDYL OF THE MOUNTAIN / EL IDILIO DE LA MONTANA 524
  232. TO THE PANAMA CANAL / AL CANAL DE PANAMA 526
  233. APPENDIX / APENDICE 529
  234. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES / ANOTACIONES BIOGRAFICAS 537
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