Alfonsina y el Mar

Across the soft sand
That the sea licks
Her small footprint
Will never return
A lonely path
Of sorrow and silence reached
The deep water
A lonely path
Of mute sorrows reached
The foam

God knows what anguish
Accompanied you
What old pains
Sileshed your voice
To lie down
Lulled by the song
Of the seashells
The song that sings
In the dark depths of the sea
The seashell

You leave, Alfonsina
With your solitude
What new poems
Did you go to seek?
An ancient voice
Of wind and salt
Breaks your soul
And is carrying it away
And you go there
As in dreams
Asleep, Alfonsina
Dressed in the sea

Five little mermaids
Will take you
Along paths of seaweed
And coral
And phosphorescent
Seahorses will make
A circle around you
And the inhabitants
Of the water will play
Soon by your side

Lower the lamp
A little more
Let me sleep
Nurse, in peace
And if he calls
Don't tell him I'm here
Tell him Alfonsina isn't coming back
And if he calls
Never tell him I'm here
Say I've gone away

You're leaving, Alfonsina
With your solitude
What new poems
Did you go to find?
An ancient voice
Of wind and salt
Breaks your soul
And is carrying it away
And you go there
As in dreams
Asleep, Alfonsina
Dressed in the sea