Alfonsina Y El Mar

By the white sand that the sea licks
her little footprint never returns,
only a path of sorrow and silence
reached the deep water,
only a path of silent sorrows
reached 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're leaving, Alfonsina, with your loneliness,
what new poems did you go to seek?
an ancient voice of wind and salt
cracks your soul and is calling you,
and you go there as in dreams,
asleep, Alfonsina, dressed in sea.
Five little mermaids will take you
through paths of seaweed and coral
and phosphorescent seahorses
will dance around you,
and the inhabitants of the water will soon play
beside you.
Lower the lamp a little more for me,
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're leaving, Alfonsina, with your loneliness,
what new poems did you go to seek?
an ancient voice of wind and salt
cracks your soul and is calling you,
and you go there as in dreams,
asleep, Alfonsina, dressed in sea.