“Ecos del Alma”

Written by Rosario de Acuña in 19th century Spain. First-time translation by Griffin Brown.

A strange whim the mind dreams,

Perhaps immodest, a vain apprehension.

Such a word

Doesn’t fit me;

Its sound

In my ear

Doesn’t murmur,

Cut with borrowed sweetness,

A song;

Harmony doesn’t give it

Melody,

And it stabs

The heart.

I tremble to hear it– mania?

I hear a soft murmur nearby:

Such a word

Doesn’t fit me,

For the whisper–

Born from

Satire’s croon–

Hurts me

With its turn,

Tears a sigh

From me.

If they give a name so ugly,

I will shred my poems;

Such a word

Doesn’t fit me,

I do not want it;

I would rather

The wind take hold of

My voice,

And like a shadow

That flees

Without a trace,

Let the gale

Snatch

My song,

My cries.