romance de la pena negra :: english

translated text  // texto traducido

copyright // derechos de autor :: b. a. lederle

The beaks of the roosters

peck haphazardly, searching for dawn

when from the shadowed mount

came Soledad Montoya.

Her flesh shined of yellowed copper,                5

smelled of horse and shade.

Her breasts - charred anvils - 

groan out circular melodies.

-Soledad, who are you asking for

here all alone and at these hours?                10

-That’s for me to know and,

tell me, why does it matter to you?

I’m here looking for what I want,

perhaps my happiness and my own self.

Oh, sorrowful Soledad,                             15

remember that the horse that bolts away

in the end finds the sea

only to be taken by the waves.

-Don’t remind me of the sea

from which the black sorrow springs,               20

in the mountains of olive trees

below the sound of leaves.

-Soledad, what a pity you are!

What a shameful disgrace!

You cry the juice of lemons                        25

made sour from wanting and bitter to the taste.

Such a terrible pity! And me, 

I pace around like a mad woman!

my braids dragging on the floor,

from the kitchen to the bedroom.                30

Such pain! My body 

and my clothes are turning black.

Oh! my threaded shirts!

Oh! My poppy colored thighs!

Soledad: wash your body                        35

with water from the lark

and leave your heart

in peace, Soledad Montoya.

From down below sings the river:

flying from heaven and treetop.               40

With pumpkin blooms,

the new light crowns you.

Oh! the sorrow of the gypsies

Clean sorrow and always alone.

Oh! the pain of  dark river’s course          45

and the distant daybreak.