Miguel Hernandez, "First Song"

[the-grynne.livejournal.com]

FIRST SONG

The field has drawn back
when it saw man, muscles
tightened, rush into it.

What an abyss appears
between the olive tree and man!

The animal who sings:
the animal who is able
to weep and to sink roots,
remembered his claws.

Claws that he adorned
with silkiness and flowers
but at last allows to be bare
in all their cruelty.

My claws are snapping on my hands.
Keep away from them, my son.
I am liable to plunge them,
I am liable to thrust them
into your fragile body.

I have turned back into the tiger.
Keep away, or I will destroy you.

Today love is death,
and man is a hunter of man.


MIGUEL HERNANDEZ

Translated from the Spanish by James Wright

Comments

[takhys]

I have turned back into the tiger.

Lovely. +mem.

[iatrogenicmyth.livejournal.com]

This is amazing, amazing, amazing.

I have recently become a huge fan of this poet thanks to these communities.