I was just struck by the beauty of this poem by Octavio Paz, and especially the setting of the translation for choir by Eric Whitacre. I’ll put up a link later for anyone who hasn’t heard it.
[Los Novios]
Tendidos en la yerba
una muchacha y un muchacho.
Comen naranjas, cambian besos
como las olas cambian sus espumas.
Tendido en la playa
una muchacha y un muchacho.
Comen limones, cambian besos
como las nubes cambian espumas.
Tendidos bajo tierra
una muchacha y un muchacho.
No dicen nada, no se besan,
cambian silencio por silencio.
[A Boy and a Girl]
Stretched out on the grass,
a boy and a girl.
Savoring their oranges,
giving their kisses like waves exchanging foam.
Stretched out on the beach,
a boy and a girl.
Savoring their limes,
giving their kisses like clouds exchanging foam.
Stretched out underground,
a boy and a girl.
Saying nothing, never kissing,
giving silence for silence.
A compelling twist in the end. ^_^ Glad to have shared a read. Thank you.
you write very pretty!
This isn’t by me.
It’s by Octavio Paz.
But thank you!
A delight.
Have had the opportunity to read both Lorca and Paz today. Good.
Really a beautiful poem. Thank you.
You should listen to Eric Whitacre’s choral song set to this piece of poetry. AMAZING!
Obviously you haven’t read the small amount of words above the piece.
anyway thanks for putting up this poem – fascinating to see what the inspiration for the choral piece was – very moving. Have not read Paz before but will seek him out.