De una dama que, quitándose una sortija,
se picó con un alfiler


Prisión del nácar era articulado
(de mi firmeza un émulo luciente)
un dïamante, ingenïosamente
en oro también él aprisionado.

Clori, pues, que su dedo apremïado
de metal, aun precioso, no consiente,
gallarda un día, sobre impacïente,
lo redimió del vínculo dorado.

Mas, ay, que insidïoso latón breve
en los cristales de su bella mano
sacrílego divina sangre bebe:

púrpura ilustró menos indïano
marfil; invidïosa, sobre nieve
claveles deshojó la Aurora en vano.



Of a lady who, taking off a ring,
pricked herself with a pin

A prison for jointed mother-of-pearl
(of my own constancy a rival bright)
a diamond was, which quite ingeniously
itself in gold was caught in prison tight.

Chloris, who that her finger be oppressed
by metal, even precious, won't allow,
one day with grace, and quite impatiently,
redeemed it from its golden bond somehow.

But, oh, a sliver of deceptive brass
upon the crystals of her lovely hand
sacrilegiously divine blood drained:

crimson dye less brightly shone on Indian
ivory; enviously, upon the snow
the Dawn carnations' petals stripped in vain. 

                     (©Alix Ingber, 1995)



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E-mail your comments and questions to:

Alix Ingber
Professor of Spanish
Sweet Briar College

ingber@sbc.edu



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