Three poems

Translations © by Laura Claycomb

Song Cycle by Joaquín Turina (1882 - 1949)

View original-language texts alone: Tres poemas

1. Olas gigantes
 (Sung text)
Language: Spanish (Español) 
Olas gigantes que os rompéis bramando
En las playas desiertas y remotas,
Envuelto entre las sábanas de espuma,
¡Llevadme con vosotras!

Ráfagas de huracán, que arrebatáis
Del alto bosque las marchitas hojas,
Arrastrando en el ciego torbellino,
¡Llevadme con vosotras!

Nubes de tempestad que rompe el rayo
Y en fuego ornáis las desprendidas orlas,
Arrebatado entre la niebla oscura,
¡Llevadme con vosotras!

Llevadme, por piedad, adonde el vértigo
Con la razón me arranque la memoria.
¡Por piedad! ... ¡Tengo miedo de quedarme
Con mi dolor a solas, con mi dolor a solas!

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by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836 - 1870)
1. Gigantic waves
Language: English 
Gigantic waves who throw yourselves roaring
Onto the remote deserted beaches
Enveloped among blankets of foam,
Take me with you!

Gusts of hurricane
that snatch from the high woods the shriveled leaves
blowing them away in the blind whirlwind,
Take me with you!

Storm clouds that break through the light
And adorn in fire the unfastened waves
Snatched from the dark mist,
Take me with you!

Take me away, for pity's sake, to where vertigo 
with my reason can tear out my memory.
For pity's sake!..
I am afraid to remain with my pain all alone.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Spanish (Español) to English copyright © 2012 by Laura Claycomb, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Translation of title "Olas gigantes" = "Gigantic waves"


This text was added to the website: 2012-09-24
Line count: 16
Word count: 96

Translation © by Laura Claycomb
2. Tu pupila es azul
 (Sung text)
Language: Spanish (Español) 
  Tu pupila es azul, y cuando ríes,
Su claridad süave me recuerda
El trémulo fulgor de la mañana
	Que en el mar se refleja.

  Tu pupila es azul, y cuando lloras,
Las transparentes lágrimas en ella
Se me figuran gotas de rocío
	Sobre una violeta.

  Tu pupila es azul, y si en su fondo,
Como un punto de luz radia una idea,
Me parece en el cielo de la tarde
	¡Una perdida estrella!

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Note: inspired by Byron's I saw thee weep; sometimes given the title "Imitación de Byron"

The spelling variant "ries" in line 1 has been changed to "ríes".
The spelling variant "süave" in line 2 has been preserved to indicate the poetic diaeresis pronunciation.
The spelling variant "rádia" in line 12 has been changed to "radia".
by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836 - 1870)
2. Your eye is blue
Language: English 
Your eye is blue, and when you laugh
its soft brightness reminds me
Of the shimmering glint of morning
that is reflected in the sea.

Your eye is blue, and when you cry,
the transparent tears in it
seem to me drops of dew 
upon a violet.

Your eye is blue, and if in its depths
like a point of light an idea radiates,
it seems to me a
lost star in the evening sky!  Ah!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Spanish (Español) to English copyright © 2012 by Laura Claycomb, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

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This text was added to the website: 2012-09-24
Line count: 12
Word count: 76

Translation © by Laura Claycomb
3. Besa el aura
 (Sung text)
Language: Spanish (Español) 
  Besa el aura que gime blandamente
Las leves ondas que jugando riza;
El sol besa a la nube en Occidente,
Y de púrpura y oro la matiza;
La llama en derredor del tronco ardiente
Por besar a otra llama se desliza,
Y hasta el sauce, inclinándose a su peso, 
Al río que le besa, vuelve un beso.

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Notes
The word "á" (in lines 3, 6, and 7) has been changed to "a" in accordance with modern spelling. "río" is misspelled as "rio" in the first publication.

by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836 - 1870)
3. The gentle breeze
Language: English 
The gentle breeze that moans gently kisses
the light waves that ripple playing;
the sun kisses the cloud in the west
and tinges it in purple and gold;
the flame around the burning trunk,
in order to kiss another flame,
glides until the willow, bending under its weight 
to the river that kisses it, returning a kiss.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Spanish (Español) to English copyright © 2012 by Laura Claycomb, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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Translation of title "Besa el aura" = "The gentle breeze"


This text was added to the website: 2012-09-24
Line count: 8
Word count: 57

Translation © by Laura Claycomb