reyerta :: español

texto original // original text

derechos de autor // copyright :: federico garcía lorca

En la mitad del barranco
las navajas de Albacete
bellas de sangre contraria,
relucen como los peces.

                   Una dura luz de naipe                  5
recorta en el agrio verde
caballos enfurecidos
y perfiles de jinetes.

En la copa de un olivo
                   lloran dos viejas mujeres.               10
El toro de la reyerta
se sube por las paredes.
Ángeles negros traían
pañuelos y agua de nieve.
                    Ángeles con grandes alas               15
de navajas de Albacete.

Juan Antonio el de Montilla
rueda muerto la pendiente,
su cuerpo lleno de lirios
               y una granada en las sienes.             20
Ahora monta cruz de fuego,
carretera de la muerte.

El juez, con guardia civil,
por los olivares viene.
                     Sangre resbalada gime             25
muda canción de serpiente.
Señores guardias civiles: aquí
pasó lo de siempre.
Han muerto cuatro romanos
                    y cinco cartagineses.                30

La tarde loca de higueras
y de rumores calientes
cae desmayada en los muslos
heridos de los jinetes.
               Y ángeles negros volaban             35
por el aire del poniente.
Ángeles de largas trenzas
y corazones de aceite.

reyerta :: english

translated text  // texto traducido

copyright // derechos de autor :: b. a. lederle
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Translator's note: I've twice had the wonderful opportunity of traveling to the comunidad autónima (similar to a US state) and provincia (similar to a US county) in Spain where Albacete is located.  Castilla-La Mancha, the autonomous community, is ruggedly beautiful is so many distinct ways that I urge you to take a trip to this area in Spain that many forget to spend time in.  The province of Albacete is a fanciful collection of cascading lakes and far-stretching plains that bake in the Spanish sun and offer some of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever witnessed.  The region also has some of the most peculiar ruins and it is with this scene in mind that I translated this poem.  Lorca uses an ample amount of landscape and nature references in this poem, but they're subtle.  I attempted to characterize the summer heat and expansive nature of the plains of La Mancha that act a scene of brutality and hot-blooded interaction in this poem.  Mostly it's a word for word translation with some stylistic elements included.
_

Midway through the ravine
the blades of Albacete,
beauties of enemy blood,
shimmer like the scales of fish.

                A trivial, lasting light               5
in the bitter green snips out
raging horses
and horsemen profiles

At the top of an olive tree
             sit two old women, crying.        10
The brawl’s bull
retreats up the walls.
Black angels arrive
with cloths and snow water -
               Angels with large wings             15
made of the blades of Albacete.

Juan Antonio de Montilla
rolls down the slope, dead,
his body full of lilies
              and a smear of pomegranate in his temples.          20
Now he rides a cross of fire
on the road of death.

With the Guardia Civil, the judge,
comes through the olive grove.
                   Slipping blood moans the             25
mute song of the serpent
Honorable Guardia Civil:
what happened here happens often.
Four Romans have died
                       and five Carthaginians.               30

This crazy afternoon, marked by
 fig trees and hot rumors,
unconsciously falls onto the injured
thighs of the horsemen.
                   And black angels flew around             35
through the westerly wind.
Angels with olive braids
and hearts of olive oil.
_
Alcalá del Júcar :: Albacete, Spain

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