Gustavo Adolfo Becquer Collected Poems Rimas SAMPLE

G u s t avo A dol fo B é cq u e r
Also by Michael Smith from Shearsman Books:
Poetry
The Purpose of the Gift: Selected Poems
Poetry in Translation
Maldon & Other Translations
Rosalía de Castro: Selected Poems
Edited & translated with Valentino Gianuzzi:
The Complete Poems of César Vallejo in three volumes:

The Black Heralds & Other Early Poems
Trilce
Complete Later Poems 1923-1938
César Vallejo: Selected Poems

Collected Poems
(Rimas)
Gustavo Adolfo
Bécquer
Edited and introduced by
Michael Smith & Luis Ingelmo
Translated by Michael Smith
S hear sm an Books
Exeter
First published in the United Kingdom in 2007 by
Shearsman Books Ltd
58 Velwell Road
Exeter EX4 4LD
www.shearsman.com
ISBN-13 978-1-905700-65-3
ISBN-10 1-905700-65-2
Translations of the poems copyright © Michael Smith, 2007.

Translation of the ‘Symphonic Introduction’ copyright © Luis Ingelmo, 2007.
Introduction & Notes copyright © Luis Ingelmo and Michael Smith, 2007.
The rights of Michael Smith and Luis Ingelmo to be identified as the

authors of these translations, and of the Introduction and Notes, have
been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and
Patents Act of 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior permission of the publisher.
The publisher gratefully acknowledges financial assistance with its 2005-2007

publishing programme from Arts Council England.
Contents
Introduction 7
Symphonic Introduction 23
Poems from Rimas 29
Other Poems
Included in the Obras 153
Not included in the Obras 161
Editors’ Notes
The Spanish Text 164
The ‘Symphonic Introduction’ 166
The Poems from Rimas 167
Other Poems 176
Bibliography 179
Note on the translators and editors 183
5
I (11)
Yo sé un himno gigante y extraño

que anuncia en la noche del alma una aurora,
y estas páginas son de ese himno
cadencias que el aire dilata en las sombras.
Yo quisiera escribirle, del hombre

domando el rebelde mezquino idïoma,
con palabras que fuesen a un tiempo
suspiros y risas, colores y notas.
Pero en vano es luchar; que no hay cifra

capaz de encerrarle, y apenas ¡oh hermosa!,
si teniendo en mis manos las tuyas,
pudiera al oído cantártelo a solas.
II (15)
Saeta que voladora

cruza arrojada al azar,
y que no se sabe dónde
temblando se clavará;
hoja que del árbol seca

arrebata el vendaval,
sin que nadie acierte el surco
donde al polvo volverá.
Gigante ola que el viento

riza y empuja en el mar
28
I (11)
I know a hymn that’s huge and strange

and heralds a dawn in the night of the soul,
and these pages are that hymn’s chords
the air prolongs in the shadows.
I would like to write it, bending

man’s poor unyielding tongue,
in words that were both laughter
and sighs, colours and notes.
But the struggle is vain, for no code

can hold it; and, lovely woman,
your hands in mine, I could scarcely
sing it to you when we are alone.
II (15)
Arrow randomly shot

crosses overhead;
no one knows where
it will shuddering strike;
gale-whipped leaf
torn from a withered tree;
no one knows the furrow
where it will return to dust.
Huge wave the wind upheaves

and drives across the sea;
29
y rueda y pasa y se ignora
qué playa buscando va.
Luz que en cercos temblorosos

brilla próxima a expirar,
y que no se sabe de ellos
cuál el último será.
Eso soy yo que al acaso

cruzo el mundo sin pensar
de dónde vengo ni a dónde
mis pasos me llevarán.
III (42)
Sacudimiento extraño
que agita las ideas
como huracán que empuja
las olas en tropel,
murmullo que en el alma

se eleva y va creciendo
como volcán que sordo
anuncia que va a arder.
Deformes siluetas
de seres imposibles,
paisajes que aparecen
como al través de un tul,
colores que fundiéndose

remedan en el aire
30
it rolls and passes, and it’s unknown
the beach it searches for.
Light in trembling rings

shining close to its end;
no one knows which ring
will be the ultimate.
Thus am I who cross

the world by chance, thoughtless
of whence I come, or whither
my steps will carry me.
III (42)
Strange disturbance
that excites ideas
as a hurricane drives
waves in tumult;
Tiny murmur in the soul

that rises, crescendoes,
like a volcano quietly
announcing its eruption.
Misshapen silhouettes
of impossible beings,
landscapes that appear
as if through tulle;
Colours that fusing

imitate in the air
31
los átomos del Iris
que nadan en la luz,
ideas sin palabras,

palabras sin sentido,
cadencias que no tienen
ni ritmo ni compás,
memorias y deseos
de cosas que no existen,
accesos de alegría,
impulsos de llorar,
actividad nerviosa
que no halla en qué emplearse,
sin riendas que le guíe[n]
caballo volador,
locura que el espíritu

exalta y desfallece,
embriaguez divina
del genio creador.
Tal es la inspiración.
Gigante voz que el caos

ordena en el cerebro
y entre las sombras hace
la luz aparecer,
brillante rienda de oro

que poderosa enfrena
de la exaltada mente
el volador corcel,
32
the atoms of the rainbow
swimming in light;
Wordless ideas,
meaningless words,
chords with neither
rhythm nor measure;
Memories and desires

of things non-existent,
caresses of happiness,
impulses of weeping;
Nervous activity
without object,
a flying horse
with no reins to guide it;
Madness that exalts

and weakens the spirit
divine inebriation
of creative genius.
Such is inspiration.
Gigantic voice, reducing

the brain’s chaos to order,
producing light
in the shadows;
Brilliant rein of gold

that powerfully bridles
the flying steed
of the exalted mind;
33
hilo de luz que en haces
los pensamiento ata,
sol que las nubes rompe
y toca en el cenit,
inteligente mano
que en un collar de perlas
consigue las indóciles
palabras reunir,
armonioso ritmo
que con cadencia y número
las fugitivas notas
encierra en el compás,
cincel que el bloque muerde

la estatua modelando,
y la belleza plástica
añade a la ideal,
atmósfera en que giran

con orden las ideas,
cual átomos que agrupa
recóndita atracción,
raudal en cuyas ondas

su sed la fiebre apaga,
oasis que al espíritu
devuelve su vigor.
Tal es nuestra razón.
Con ambas siempre en lucha

y de ambas vencedor,
tan sólo al genio es dado
a un yugo atar las dos.
34
Thread of light that binds
thoughts in sheaves,
sun that rends the clouds
and reaches the zenith;
Intelligent hand
that links
in a necklace of pearls
intractable words;
Harmonious rhythm
with cadence and number,
enclosing fugitive notes
in a definite measure;
Chisel that bites the block

as it models the statue,
joining mystical beauty
to the ideal;
Atmosphere in which ideas

revolve with order
like atoms grouping
to a hidden attraction;
Stream in whose ripples

fever quenches its thirst,
oasis restoring strength
to the spirit.
Such is our reason.
Forever in strife with both

and victorious over both,
it is given only to genius
to unite the two in one yoke.
35
IV (39)
No digáis que agotado su tesoro,

de asuntos falta enmudeció la lira;
podrá no haber poetas, pero siempre
habrá poesía.
Mientras las ondas de la luz al beso

palpiten encendidas,
mientras el sol las desgarradas nubes
de fuego y oro vista,
mientras el aire en su regazo lleve
perfumes y armonías,
mientras haya en el mundo primavera,
¡habrá poesía!
Mientras la ciencia a descubrir no alcance

las fuentes de la vida,
y en el mar o en el cielo haya un abismo
que al cálculo resista,
mientras la humanidad siempre avanzando
no sepa a do camina,
mientras haya un misterio para el hombre,
¡habrá poesía!
Mientras se sienta que se ríe el alma,

sin que los labios rían;
mientras se llore, sin que el llanto acuda
a nublar la pupila;
mientras el corazón y la cabeza
batallando prosigan,
mientras haya esperanzas y recuerdos,
¡habrá poesía!
36
IV (39)
Do not say, Its treasure exhausted,

the lyre went mute for want of content:
it may be there’ll be no more poets,
but there will always be poetry!
While waves throb

inflamed at the kiss of light;
while the sun clothes the rent clouds
in fire and gold;
while the breeze bears in its lap
perfumes and harmonies;
while there is spring in the world,
there will always be poetry!
While science fails to disclose

the sources of life,
and in the sea or the air
there is an immeasurable abyss;
while humanity ever advancing
is ignorant whither it goes;
while a mystery remains for man,
While the soul can still laugh

without the lips laughing;
while the soul can still cry
without the eyes darkening;
while the heart and the head
continue locked in confl ict;
while there are hopes and memories,
37
Mientras haya unos ojos que reflejen
los ojos que los miran,
mientras responda el labio suspirando
al labio que suspira,
mientras sentirse puedan en un beso
dos almas confundidas,
mientras exista una mujer hermosa,
¡habrá poesía!
38
While there are eyes reflecting
eyes that gaze upon them;
while the sighing lip replies
to the lip that sighs;
while two souls are joined
together in a kiss;
while there exists a lovely woman,
39

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G u s t avo A dol fo B é cq u e r

Also by Michael Smith from Shearsman Books:

Edited & translated with Valentino Gianuzzi:

The Complete Poems of César Vallejo in three volumes:

César Vallejo: Selected Poems

Translated by Michael Smith

Translations of the poems copyright © Michael Smith, 2007.

The rights of Michael Smith and Luis Ingelmo to be identified as the

The publisher gratefully acknowledges financial assistance with its 2005-2007

Poems from Rimas 29

Note on the translators and editors 183

Yo sé un himno gigante y extraño

Yo quisiera escribirle, del hombre

Pero en vano es luchar; que no hay cifra

Saeta que voladora

hoja que del árbol seca

Gigante ola que el viento

I know a hymn that’s huge and strange

I would like to write it, bending

But the struggle is vain, for no code

Arrow randomly shot

Huge wave the wind upheaves

Luz que en cercos temblorosos

Eso soy yo que al acaso

murmullo que en el alma

colores que fundiéndose

Light in trembling rings

Thus am I who cross

Tiny murmur in the soul

Colours that fusing

ideas sin palabras,

locura que el espíritu

Gigante voz que el caos

brillante rienda de oro

Memories and desires

Madness that exalts

Gigantic voice, reducing

Brilliant rein of gold

cincel que el bloque muerde

atmósfera en que giran

raudal en cuyas ondas

Tal es nuestra razón.

Con ambas siempre en lucha

Chisel that bites the block

Atmosphere in which ideas

Stream in whose ripples

Such is our reason.

Forever in strife with both

No digáis que agotado su tesoro,

Mientras las ondas de la luz al beso

Mientras la ciencia a descubrir no alcance

Mientras se sienta que se ríe el alma,

Do not say, Its treasure exhausted,

While waves throb

While science fails to disclose

While the soul can still laugh

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