Tag Archives: Spanish-English

Neruda LXXXII

[LXXXII]Amor mío, al cerrar esta puerta nocturnaMy love, on closing this nocturnal doorte pido, amor, un viaje por oscuro recinto:I ask, love, for a voyage through dark environs:cierra tus sueños, entra con tu cielo en mis ojos,shut your dreams, come … Continue reading

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The Wrath of Divines

Like cartooning, the act of translation has proven dangerous at times. For his role in putting Christian scriptures into English, John Wycliffe’s long-dead bones were dug up, burnt, and chucked into the river by order of churchmen. … The act … Continue reading

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Neruda LXXXIII

Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada. Cien sonetos de amor1924, Pablo Neruda y Herederos de Pablo Neruda1994, Random House MondadoriCuarta edición en U.S.A: febrero 2004 [LXXXIII]Es bueno, amor, sentirte cerca de mí en la noche,It’s good, love, to … Continue reading

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Neruda LXXXIV

[LXXXIV]Una vez más, amor, la red del día extingueOne more time, love, the net of day extinguishestrabajos, ruedas, fuegos, estertores, adioses,labors, wheels, fires, death rattles, goodbyes,y a la noche entregamos el trigo vacilanteand we deliver to the night the unsteady … Continue reading

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‘Inter faeces et urinam nascimur’

“Between feces and urine we are born,” said Augustine in the 4th century. The bishop of Hippo’s take on parturition was that our mothers effectively defecate us from their feculent crannies. Doctrine on sex and love handed down by dour … Continue reading

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Neruda LXXXV

[LXXXV]Del mar hacia las calles corre la vaga nieblaA seaward-springing hint of fog runs through the streetscomo el vapor de un buey enterrado en el frío,like steam from an ox interred in the cold,y largas lenguas de agua se acumulan … Continue reading

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Neruda LXXXVI

[LXXXVI]Oh Cruz del Sur, oh trébol de fósforo fragante,O Southern Cross, O cloverleaf of fragrant phosphorous,con cuatro besos hoy penetró tu hermosuratoday your beauty pierced with four kissesy atravesó la sombra y mi sombrero:and crossed over the shadow and my … Continue reading

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‘Ethics of Translation’ (?)

As a presumptive translator I’m nagged by a sense of straying where I don’t belong. Where is my writ to translate into a non-native language, for example? I didn’t suck Spanish from mother’s teat. How can I possibly match what … Continue reading

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Neruda [LXXXVII]

[LXXXVII]Las tres aves del mar, tres rayos, tres tijerasThe three sea birds, three flashes, three scissorscruzaron por el cielo frío hacia Antofagasta,crossed over the cold sky towards Antofagasta,por eso quedó el aire tembloroso,that’s why the air was set to shaking,todo … Continue reading

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Neruda LXXXVIII

[LXXXVIII]El mes de marzo vuelve con su luz escondidaThe month of March is back with its absconded lighty se deslizan peces inmensos por el cielo,and immense fish slide through the sky,vago vapor terrestre progresa sigiloso,vague earth-bound mist advances furtively,una por … Continue reading

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