Poetry from Peru
Keeping up to schedule, Poem 33 for my proposed "A Salute to Spanish Poetry: 100 Masterpieces from Spain & Latin America" was written by the celebrated Peruvian poet, Manuel Gonzalez Prada.. 21 such poems are included in the Tom Howard anthology, "Escape to Paradise and Other Poetic Fancies."
Mr Cosmopolitan
translated from the Spanish of Manuel González Prada
How it wearies me!
How tiresome it all is!
You would certainly sigh
with crushing boredom too, if
you were forced to eternally sight
the same fields, the same fog, the same
people, the same skies!
Over the waves – that’s where I’d love to escape!
Through the white foam I’d fly to warm my brow
under a distant sun, if only the river would lend me
its current, or if an eagle would allow me to borrow
his wings!
And I won’t be one of those complaining tourists,
who, no sooner arrived on distant shores,
breathes out a series of complaints,
grievances and lamentations!
When I’m gripped by gentle hands,
and where warm springs envelop me,
then and there I’ll make your country
mine — and your citizens, my sisters
and brothers!
Mr Cosmopolitan
translated from the Spanish of Manuel González Prada
How it wearies me!
How tiresome it all is!
You would certainly sigh
with crushing boredom too, if
you were forced to eternally sight
the same fields, the same fog, the same
people, the same skies!
Over the waves – that’s where I’d love to escape!
Through the white foam I’d fly to warm my brow
under a distant sun, if only the river would lend me
its current, or if an eagle would allow me to borrow
his wings!
And I won’t be one of those complaining tourists,
who, no sooner arrived on distant shores,
breathes out a series of complaints,
grievances and lamentations!
When I’m gripped by gentle hands,
and where warm springs envelop me,
then and there I’ll make your country
mine — and your citizens, my sisters
and brothers!
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