Rose of Fire
by Antonio Machado

Selected and Translated from Spanish
by Gill Schwartz

You are the fabric of spring, lovers,
of earth, and water and wind and sun.
Within your panting chests the mountains,
in your eyes the fields in flower.

Pass you mutual spring-hood
and fearlessly drink the sweet milk
the lubricant panther offers today,
before, like a storm, he attacks in the road.

Walk, when the planet's axis
is bent towards the summer solstice
– green the almond and withered the violet,

close to thirst and near by the springs –
towards the evening of love, complete,
with the rose of fire in your hand.

 

Copyright Nathaniel Schwartz 2003   www.WisdomVisions.com