You Want Me Pale — Alfonsina Storni
Frente al Mar — Alfonsina Storni
You want me pale — Alfonsina Storni
You want me pale, Made of sea foam, A mother of pearl. Made of white lily, Untouched among the others. Made of thinning perfume. Petals sealed. Not touched by moonbeams, Not called ‘sister’ by the daisies. You want me like snow, You want me white, You want me pale. You have had all The cups in your hands, Flowing fruit and honey, Staining your lips dark. You have been in the banquet Laced with grapevines, Relinquishing your meat, Reveling in Bacchus. You have been in the gardens, Black with deception, Wearing red and Running into ruin. You have kept your Skeleton intact, and by Miracles I do not know, Still expect me to be white (God forgive you for it), Still expect me to be spotless (God forgive you for it), Still expect me to be pale. So flee into the woods, Run into the mountains; Clean your mouth; Live in a cottage; Touch the damp earth With your hands; Nourish your body with The bitter root; Drink, like Moses, From the rocks; Sleep upon the frost; Rejuvenate your flesh With saltpetre and water; Speak with the birds, Rise with the sun. And when your body Has returned to you, When it’s become entangled In the bedroom of your soul, Only then, good man, Can you expect me to be pale, Expect me to be snow, Expect me to be untouched.
Translated from the Spanish by Sarah Fletcher
Originally published at blog.alexwaterhousehayward.com.
