Nocturno Revisado
The frolic of she and key—
the key of Roma City,
because in Roma, a highway,
on a highway a house,
a house, bedchambers bedded
down with the body
of a lady in love,
who seizes the key.
Who leaps, leaping from bed,
from chamber,
who leaves home,
walking meanest of streets,
who seizes sword, runs
in the night,
who passerby
kills, out go his lights.
Who is alley to avenue
to home, house awaiting—
who clambers to chamber,
slips in the bed,
who gently tucks the key away,
buries the sword.
Who complains of Rome’s
population blithely sauntering by,
without their deaths,
without night,
without key,
without lady.
Poet: Rafael Alberti
Translation: Manny Grimaldi
4 thoughts on "Nocturno Revisado"
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
The poem tumbles and reveals. You have made me love Alberti!
Wow!
Randy fellow, that Alberti. No wonder you admire him.
¡Hermoso! Estoy seguro de que tu traducción es perfecta, ¿no?
(I just ordered Concerning the Angels, the Spanish edition. I hope this is a great place to start!
Thank you for sharing this translation work!