^{translated from the Spanish by Alice Stone Blackwell}

With graceful waves, ye waters, frolic free;
   Uplift your liquid songs, ye eddies bright,
   And you, loquacious bubblings, day and night,
Hold converse with the wind and leaves in glee!
O’er the deep cut, ye jets, gush sportively.
   And rend yourselves to foamy tatters white,
   And dash on boulders curved and rocks upright,
Golconda’s pearls and diamonds rich to see!
I am your sire, the River. Lo, my hair
   Is moonbeams pale: of yon cerulean sky
      Mine eyes are mirrors, as I sweep along.
Of molten spray is my forehead fair;
   Transparent mosses for my beard have I;
The laughter of the Naiads’ is my song.

 

---

 

El río

 

^Soneto

Triscad, oh linfas, con la grácil onda,
gorgoritas, alzad vuestras canciones.
y vosotros, parleros borbollones,
dialogad con el viento y con la fronda.
 
Chorro garrulador, sobre la honda
cóncava quiebra, rómpete en jirones
y estrella contra riscos y peñones
tus diamantes y perlas de Golconda.
 
Soy vuestro padre el río. Mis cabellos
son de la luna pálidos destellos,
cristal mis ojos del cerúleo manto.
 
Es de musgo mi barba transparente,
ópalos desleídos son mi frente
y risa de las náyades mi canto.