(Sestina) – Through the Mantaro Valley of Peru (Now in English and Spanish)
The revelation of the blossoming of the Valley has come
of ancient beautiful mountains with spring.
Playing, my body is dancing today, and in my mind
gentle winds unfold. A wish for the far distant winds….
Fading I see the rainbow pedestal, a fiery sapphire,
stones like opals, cover the sunsets of the mountains.
Is this your last home? If so, that’s the best!
As if she were an only child, she is now beautiful.
It is only one way, the last one; you have, I take your way.
Here in the valley, springs and dust comes from kings,
kings: breathless wonder, immemorial beauty–;
between sunsets and solitudes, an eternal splendor!
Beauty never sleeps for long, she is your protected friend!
Strange and dreamy are the stars you follow.
Strange and dreamy, are the stars above your Valley.
Is this your last home? If so, that’s the best!
As if she were an only child, she is now beautiful.
It is only one way, the last one; you have, I take your way.
I saw the condor: in the valley, but some nights past,
fast she flew, spilled in music, her winds of darkness;
dreaming things that I have not known, I was left alone,
The moon has set in riot, inside these old white bones,
Then her silence passed my world, tenderly, yes, I stood
strange, oh tender enchanted thoughts, I loved them!
Is this your last home? If so, that’s the best!
As if she were an only child, she is now beautiful.
It is only one way, the last one; you have, I take your way.
Speak, I want to hear your silver voice, illuminated by the moon.
Clear, mystical moonlight, within my furthest dream,
yet in Your eyes I see distant tears! And I hear you say:
‘I am spirit, you are only flesh, listen, what do you say?
I tell you: what have you done with my mountains?
and my stream, now is the shameful flow’r.’
Is this your last home? If so, that’s the best!
But I couldn’t speak with the silver, moonlit voice,
his wonder, phenomenon, in her a distant dream.
She comes, no longer silent, but fragrance to your heart,
What do you want me to say? ‘All is well from your throne!’
Oh no! Oh no! I tell you that your eyes are part of Paradise!
Oh yeah! Oh goddess, alter-flame of the world, do not despair
the blinding sight has made your heart ache and rain,
however, your stars return to you, your beauty, just be.
Is this your last home? If so, that’s the best!
My heart is lost in the central valley of its delight,
Oh implacable satiety, pass the walls of my soul.
And she spoke to me again, in her moon-silver voice,
Come with me, oh prince! she said, ‘for distant adventures await.
Your heart is warmer than light, drowned in joy,
walk, and do not leave me, my steps I will see,
Tell Christ you can’t go, hold on to my arms, please!’
She is something beyond, far beyond, these human hours.
Here in the valley, comes buds and dust of kings
yet in Your eyes I see distant tears! And I hear you say:
‘…tell Christ you can’t leave, hold on to my arms, please!’
Note: in a Sestina you can often feel (if done correctly) creating a rolling musical effect, almost like rolling down a hill or a mountain into a valley, which was the effect I chose and tried to produce in this poem. . No.: 1931 8-8-2007.
Spanish version
(Sestina):
To the Mantaro Valley
The flowering of the Valley has manifested itself coming
from magnificent ancient mountains with Spring.
Humming, my body is a dance today, and in my mind
sweet eats are revealed. A wish for the remote far winds…
Fading I see the rainbow pedestal, a fiery sapphire,
stones like opals, cover the sunsets of the mountains.
Is this my last home? If it is, it’s the best!
As an only child, this one is beautiful nonetheless.
‘This is only one way, the last one; Do you take it? I take his way.
Here in the valley, eat buds and dust of kings,
kings: breathless admiration, immemorial beauty–;
between the sunsets and the solitudes, an eternal splendor!
Beauty never misses to sleep–this is your cautious friend!
Strange and dreamy are the stars that follow
Strange and dreamy, are the stars above your Valley.
Is this my last home? If it is, it’s the best!
As an only child, this one is beautiful nonetheless.
‘This is only one way, the last one; Do you take it? I take his way.
I have seen the condor: in the valley, just a few nights ago,
swift he flew, oozing with music, his wings of darkness;
dreamed things that I did not know, I was only,
the moon set the mutiny, inside these old white bones,
so that their silences pass my world, tenderly, if I was strange,
oh sweet enchanted thoughts–they enchanted me!
Is this my last home? If it is, it’s the best!
As an only child, this one is beautiful nonetheless.
‘This is only one way, the last one; Do you take it? I take his way.
Speak, for I long to hear your silver, moonlit voice.
Clear moonlight, mystic, inside my furthest dream
still, in my eyes I see distant tears! And I hear you say:
‘I am spirit, you only flesh, listening to you say, what do you say,
I tell you, what have you done to my mountains
and my stream, because now it is just a shameful flower’.
Is this my last home? If it is, it’s the best!
But I couldn’t speak to the silver, moonlit voice,
his wonder, freak, in his farthest dream.
She comes, never more silent, even the fragrance to the heart,
What would you make me say? All is well from your throne!
Oh no! Oh no! I tell you, your eyes are part of Paradise!
Oh yeah! O goddess, pyre-altar of the world, do not despair
the blinding sight has caused your heart pain and rain
Although your stars return to you, your beauty is scarce.
Is this my last home? If it is, it’s the best!
My heart is lost in the central valley of the place,
Or you, implacable satiety, pass the walls of my soul.
And she spoke to me again, in her silver moonlit voice,
‘Come forth with me, O prince!’ she said, ‘for distant adventures awaits.
Your heart is hotter than light, drowned in happiness,
go, and do not abandon me, your steps I will see,
tell Christ you can’t leave, hold on to my arms, please!
She is something amazing, far beyond these human hours.
Here in the valley, eat buds and dust of kings,
still, in my eyes I see distant tears! And I hear you say:
‘…tell Christ you can’t leave, hold on to my arms, please!’
Note: In a Sestina, one often can feel (if done correctly) the creation of a musical rolling effect, as well as rolling down a hill or a mountain into a valley, an effect that I chose and tried to produce in this poem.
#1931 August-8-2007.
