Alfonsina y El Mar

Through the soft sand that the sea licks
Her little footprint never returns
A path only of stone and silence arrived
To the deep water
A path only of mute stones arrived
To the foam

God knows what anguish accompanied you
What old pains silenced your voice
To lay you down lulled by the song
Of the seashells
The song that sings in the dark depths of the sea
The seashell

You leave, Alfonsina, with your solitude
What new poems did you go to seek?
An ancient voice of wind and salt
Breaks your soul and is taking it
And you go there as in dreams
Asleep, Alfonsina dressed in sea

Five little mermaids will carry you
Through paths of algae and coral
And phosphorescent seahorses will
Dance around you
And the inhabitants of the water will play
Soon by your side

Lower the lamp a little
Let me sleep, nurse, in peace
And if he calls, don't tell him I'm here
Tell him Alfonsina won't return
And if he calls, never tell him I'm here
Say that I have gone

You leave, Alfonsina, with your solitude
What new poems did you go to seek?
An ancient voice of wind and salt
Breaks your soul and is calling it
And you go there as in dreams
Asleep, Alfonsina dressed in sea