I'm so frightfully unhappy,
I feel, oh stars, I am dying!:
I want to live, and I'm sighing
A beauteous woman to see.
Like a helmet, her headdress
A beautiful face protects:
Her black hair the light reflects
Like the sword of Damascus.
What of that one?… Well, find all
The world's gall, and then enmesh,
Cover it in so much flesh,
And you have a soul that's all gall!
Well, this one?… What a disgrace!
The creature red slippers wears,
Paints her lips red if she cares,
And puts on a barnished face.
The sorrowful soul then screamed:
Damn you, woman, twice damn you!"
I know not which of the two
The more accursed should be deemed!
DE MI DESDICHA ESPANTOSA... (Verso XXXIII)
De mi desdicha espantosa
Siento, oh estrellas, que muero:
Yo quiero vivir, yo quiero
Ver a una mujer hermosa.
El cabello, como un casco,
Le corona el rostro bello:
Brilla su negro cabello
Como un sable de Damasco.
¿Aquélla?... Pues pon la hiel
Del mundo entero en un haz,
Y tállala en cuerpo, y ¡haz
Un alma entera de hiel!
¿Esta?... Pues esta infeliz
Lleva escarpines rosados,
Y los labios colorados,
Y la cara de barniz.
El alma lúgubre grita:
"¡Mujer, maldita mujer!"
¡No sé yo quién pueda ser
Entre las dos la maldita!
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From guest Javier R.S. (contact)
In my opinion this is about a superficially beautiful woman who is rotten inside (gall), and the "creature" who is not beautiful on the outside and is careless about her appearance. Marti can't decide which one is more beautiful (I assume the second one has more virtues). -
very nice
this is a very deep expression...every thing is fair in love and War -
This poem has the distinct flavor of the great English Cavalier poets. I am thinking in particular of Suckling, Marvel and Herrick. This should not surprise us in a Cuban poet, since it was José Martí who said that "The knowledge of many literatures is necessary in order to protect ourselves from the tyranny of one."
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