Miguel Hernandez, 'Love Climbed Between Us'
[LOVE CLIMBED BETWEEN US]
Love climbed between us
like the moon between two trees
that have never embraced.
The hidden murmur of our bodies
surged toward a lullaby,
but the voice was hoarse and tortured.
The lips were stone.
The longing to clasp aroused the flesh,
exalting the fevered bones,
but the arms, stretching out,
withered as they were.
Love passed between us like the moon
and devoured our lonely bodies.
And we are two ghosts who seek one another
and meet far off.
MIGUEL HERNANDEZ
Translated from the Spanish by John Haines
Love climbed between us
like the moon between two trees
that have never embraced.
The hidden murmur of our bodies
surged toward a lullaby,
but the voice was hoarse and tortured.
The lips were stone.
The longing to clasp aroused the flesh,
exalting the fevered bones,
but the arms, stretching out,
withered as they were.
Love passed between us like the moon
and devoured our lonely bodies.
And we are two ghosts who seek one another
and meet far off.
MIGUEL HERNANDEZ
Translated from the Spanish by John Haines