“LOVE THE WILD SWAN“
by Luis Rogelio Nogueras
Translation by Eli
Do not try to settle your hands on its innocent
neck (even the softest caress would seem to her
like the brutal handling of the executioner).
do not try to whisper your love or your sorrow to her
(your voice would scare her as the thunder in the middle of the night).
Do not touch the water of the lagoon do not breathe
To be yours it would have to die.
Be content with its wild distance
with her foreign beauty
(if it turns the head hide between the grass).
Do not break the charm of this summer evening.
Swallow your impossible love.
Love it like it is, free.
Love the way in which it ignores that you exist.
Love the wild swan.
The above is a recent translation I made from a famous poem by the Cuban poet Luis Rogelio Nogueras, I wanted to start the year in my blog with something that reflex part of what I am, Poetry is part of me so what’s better than a good poem? specially when this poem is my favorite of all time.
Bellow is the original poem as it was written in Spanish, If you know Spanish I’m sure you will appreciate it.
“AMA AL CISNE SALVAJE“
by Luis Rogelio Nogueras
No intentes posar tus manos sobre su inocente
cuello (hasta la mas suave caricia le pareceria el
brutal manejo del verdugo).
No intentes susurrarle tu amor o tus penas
(tu voz lo asustaria como un trueno en medio de la
noche).
No remuevas el agua de la laguna no respires
Para ser tuyo tendria que morir.
Confórmate con su salvaje lejanía
con su ajena belleza
(si vuelve la cabeza escóndete entre la hierba).
No rompas el hechizo de esta tarde de verano.
Trágate tu amor imposible.
Ámalo libre.
Ama el modo en que ignora que tú existes.
Ama al Cisne Salvaje.
Hello Ely
Thank you so much for your translation. Just read the poem as part of a an exhibition @ the Amos Anderson art museum in Helsinki.
Think it was in Teemu Maki’s Why video.
Bye for now &
Kind regards
Hilfra
Excellent point! thanks Omar, I will change it, have you had the opportunity read more of Nogueras?
i’d say:
“your voice would scare her as THE thunder in the middle of the night”
The article THE would make the sound stronger and particular, in a way. What do u think? 😛
Thanks, I changed it a long time ago according to your suggestion, but had totally forgotten to reply to you. This site has been practically abandoned for years. Anyway I hope you somehow still get to see this reply even though it was what 14 years later? lol