Tonight's Lullaby

[Xipe Totec]

It's bedtime for me, so I leave you with a poem by one of my favorite Mexican poets, Amado Nervo.

If you wish to hear what it sound like in Spanish, here is a link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfp2Mud5khE


And here is my translation:

(COWARDICE)

Amado Nervo

She walked with her mother
what heavenly beauty!
with long golden tresses
the color of wheat

what rhythm of walking!
what royal demeanor
what shapely proportions
beneath the fine dress

She walked with her mother,
and turning to watch me,
she snared me completely
with just one blue glance

She put me in ecstasy
with fevered urgency:
follow her! Screamed
body and soul at once

but I was afraid
to love her with madness
to open the wounds
that bled in the past

so despite all my thirst
and desire for kindness
I lowered my eyes and...
...I let her walk past


COBARDIA

Paso con su madre
que rara belleza!
que rubios cabellos
de trigo garzul!

que ritmo en el paso
que inata realeza
de porte que formas
bajo el fino tul

paso con su madre
volvio la cabeza
me clavo muy hondo
su mirar azul

quede como en extasis
con febril premura
siguela, gritaron
cuerpo y alma al par

mas tuve miedo
de amar con locura
de abrir mis heridas
que suelen sangrar

y no obstante toda
mi sed de ternura
cerrando los ojos
la deje pasar