Poems of Gustavo Adolfo Becquer, XV

^{Translated from the Spanish by Mason Carnes}

Floating veil of misty light,
Ribbon curl’d of foam snow-white,
Cadence bold from harp of gold,
Wave of light and kiss of breeze,—
            Such are you!

You, an airy shade that flees
When I try its form to seize;
Vanishing like flame o’erthrown,
Like the fog and murmured moan
            From a lake of blue.

Wave on shoreless sea, a trace
Of a meteor through space,
Long desire for something higher,
Deep lamenting of the wind,
            Such am I!

I, who in my pain will find
Toward your own my eyes inclined,
I, who mad and tireless run
After shadows of the sun,
            Visions floating by!