domingo, 28 de noviembre de 2010

Escritos del emperador Claudio

El emperador Claudio (hijo de Druso y hermano de Germánico) descolló en vida como historiador. No en vano fue alumno del gran Tito Livio. Por desgracia casi la totalidad de su obra (en la que se encontraban, según contemporáneos suyos, un libro sobre las guerras entre Roma y Cartago, otro sobre los Etruscos, un tratado sobre las reformas religiosas realizadas por el emperador Augusto, una Historia de Roma en la que se narraban los eventos de la República y el ascenso al poder de Julio César - y que quedaba abruptamente suspendida al inicio del reinado de Augusto, al parecer por censura de Livia, la esposa del primer emperador-, un tratado sobre el juego de dados y una Autobiografía de la que el historiador y senador Suetonio extrajo algunos datos) se encuentra aún perdida. Se conservan fragmentos en textos de otros historiadores, pero, infortunadamente, dichos historiadores estaban más bien sesgados en contra de Claudio, vivieron después de su reinado o se apoyaron en testimonios y escritos de sus enemigos políticos.

De la Autobiografía de Claudio puede suponerse que fue censurada y destruida bajo el reinado de Nerón, a instancias de Agripina. Nerón no toleraba que un escritor (así fuera su propio padre adoptivo) le hiciera sombra. De otro lado, la Autobiografía seguramente tenía contenidos "peligrosos" para Agripina, como sus incestuosas relaciones con su hermano Calígula -también emperador- y su propio hijo Nerón. La Autobiografía fue retomada por el genial Robert Graves en sus dos trabajos de historia-ficción "Yo, Claudio" y "Claudio el Dios y su esposa Mesalina".

Otro desraciado suceso es que Narciso, el secretario personal de Claudio, quemó todos los documentos, edictos y cartas del emperador al acaecer su muerte (que parece haber sido envenenamiento a manos de Agripina, su última esposa y madre de Nerón). Los motivos se desconocen, pero es posible que Narciso lo hiciera para salvaguardar secretos de Estado que podrían ser mal usados por Nerón y Agripina (algunos se han aventurado a decir que contenían un plan secreto de Claudio para salvaguardar la vida de Británico en Inglaterra, boicotear el reinado de Nerón -a quien, a instancias de Agripina, había nombrado heredero casi a regañadientes- y restaurar la República, en la que tanto Claudio como su padre Druso siempre habían creído).

La misma Agripina se encargó de mandar asesinar a Narciso poco después, y Nerón, hijo adoptivo de Claudio, envenenó a su hermano Británico (el hijo de Claudio con Mesalina, que era aún un adolescente) en un banquete (posteriormente, el emperador Livio recordaría la espantosa imagen de su amigo Británico muriendo en espantosas condiciones). Otro liberto y antiguo colaborador de Claudio, Pallas, también se dio a la tarea de eliminar sus documentos.

Años después, otros emperadores, deseosos de opacar la dinastía Julio-Claudia, terminaron de eliminar cualquier rastro de Claudio. El emperador Claudio Pertinax mandó derribar las estatuas de Claudio para poner las suyas. E, infortunadamente, Claudio no contó, como Séneca o Cicerón, con buena fama literaria: la desaparición de sus textos de las bibliotecas del mundo antiguo fue un hecho que no causó "dolor" a los intelectuales.

Pero, en la medida en que las excavaciones y el trabajo concienzudo de arqueólogos, historiadores e investigadores lo han ido permitiendo, han aparecido algunos fragmentos de lo que Claudio escribió en vida.

Aquí van algunos:

Carta de Claudio a los ciudadanos de Alejandría

(A.D. 41, after August 29)

"Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Imperator, Pontifex Maximus, Holder of the Tribunician Power, Consul Designate, to the City of the Alexandrians, greeting.
Tiberius Claudius Barbillus, Apollonius son of Artemidorus, Chaeremon son of Leonidas, Marcus Julius Asklepiades, Gaius Julius Dionysios, Tiberius Claudius Phanias, Pasion son of Potamon, Dionysios son of Sabbion, Tiberius Claudius Archibius, Apollonius son of Ariston, Gaius Julius Apollonius, Hermaiskos son of Apollonius, your ambassadors, having delivered to me the decree, discoursed at length concerning the city, directing my attention to your goodwill towards us, which, from long ago, you may be sure, had been stored up to your advantage in my memory; for you are by nature reverent towards the Augusti, as I know from many proofs, and in particular have taken a warm interest in my house, warmly reciprocated, of which fact (to mention the last instance, passing over the others) the supreme witness is my brother Germanicus addressing you in words more clearly stamped as his own.
Wherefore, I gladly accepted the honors given to me by hou, though I have no weakness for such things. And first I permit you to keep my birthday as a dies Augustus as you have yourselves proposed; and I agree to the erection in their several places of the statues of myself and my family; for I see that you were anxious to establish on every side memorials of your reverence for my house. Of the two golden statues, the one made to represent the Pas Augusta Claudiana, as my most honored Barbillus suggested and entreated when I wished to refuse, for fear of being thought too offensive, shall be erected at Rome; and the other according to your request shall be carried in procession on the eponymous days in your city, and it shall be accompanied by a throne adorned with whatever trappings you choose.

It would perhaps be foolish, while accepting such great honors, to refuse the institution of a Claudian Tribe and the establishment of groves after the manner of Egypt. And so I grant you these requests as well, and if you wish you may also erect the equestrian statues given by Vitrasius Pollio my procurator. As for the erection of those in four-horse chariots which you wish to set up to me at the entrances into the country, I consent to let one be placed at Taposiris, the Libyan town of that name, another at Pharos in Alexandria, and a third at Pelusium in Egypt. But I deprecate the appointment of a high priest to me and the building of temples, for I do not wish to be offensive to my contemporaries, and my opinion is that temples and such forms of honor have by all ages been granted as a prerogative to the gods alone.
Concerning the requests which you have been anxious to obtain from me, I decide as follows. All those who have become epheboi up to the time of my Principate I confirm and maintain in the possession of the Alexandrian citizenship with all the privileges and indulgences enjoyed by the city, excepting those who have contrived to become epheboi by beguiling you, though born of servile mothers. And it is equally my will that all the other favors shall be confirmed wich were granted to you by former princes and kings and prefects, as the Deified Augustus also confirmed them. It is my will that the neokoroi of the Temple of the Deified Augustus in Alexandria shall be chosen by lot in the same was as those of the Deified Augustus in Canopus are chosen by lot. With regard to the civic magistracies being made triennial, your proposal seems to me to be very good; for through fear of being called to account for any abuse of power your magistrates will behave with greater circumspection during their term of office. Concerning the Boule, what your custom may have been under the ancient kings I have no means of saying, but that you had no senate under the earlier Augusti, you are well aware. As this is the first broaching of a novel project, whose utility to the city and to my government is not evident, I have written to Aemilius Rectus to hold an inquiry and inform me whether in the first place it is right that a Boule should be consituted, and , if it should be right to create one, in what matter this is to be done.

As for the question , which party was responsible for the riots and feud (or rather, if the truth be told, the war) with the Jews, although in confrontation with their opponents your ambassadors, and particularly Dionysios the son of Theon, contended with great zeal, nevertheless I was unwilling to make a strict inquiry, though guarding within me a store of immutable indignation against whichever party renews the conflict. And I tell you once and for all that unless you put a stop to this ruinous and obstinate enmity against each other, I shall be driven to show what a benevolent Prince can be when turned to righteous indignation. Wherefore, once again I conjure you that, on the one hand, the Alexandrians show themselves forebearing and kindly towards the Jews who for many years have dwelt in the same city, and dishonor none of the rites observed by them in the worship of their god, but allow them to observe their customs as in the time of the Deified Augustus, which customs I also, after hearing both sides, have sanctioned; and on the other hand, I explicitly order the Jews not to agitate for more privileges than they formerly possessed, and not in the future to send out a separate embassy as though they lived in a separate city (a thing unprecedented), and not to force their way into gymnasiarchic or cosmetic games, while enjoying their own privileges and sharing a great abundance of advantages in a city not their own, and not to bring in or admit Jews who come down the river from Egypt or from Syria, a proceeding which will compel me to conceive serious suspicions. Otherwise I will by all means take vengeance on them as fomenters of which is a general plague infecting the whole world. If, desisting from these courses, you consent to live with mutual forebearance and kindliness, I on my side will exercise a solicitude of very long standing for the city, as one which is bound to us by traditional friendship. I bear witness to my friend Barbillus of the solicitude which he has always shown for you in my presence and of the extreme zeal with which he has now advocated your cause; and likewise to my friend Tiberius Claudius Archibius.

Farewell."

*

Extractos de Discurso ante el Senado

(48 d.C.)


Claudius, the third successor of Augustus (41 to 54 A.D.), did much to equalize the condition of the Italians and the Provincials.

The following speech of his in the Senate (preserved on an inscription) illustrates at once the nature of an imperial harangue before the Conscript Fathers (the members of the Senate), the interruptions that seem to have been allowed even in the speech of an Emperor, the broad personalities in which Claudius indulged, and his liberal policy withal, especially to the Gauls. A version of the speech is also reported by Tacitus.

Inscription: Claudius: "It is surely an innovation of the divine Augustus, my great-uncle, and of Tiberius Caesar, my uncle, to desire that particularly the flower of the colonies and of the municipal towns, that is to say, all those that contain men of breeding and wealth, should be admitted to this assembly."

[Interruption, seemingly by a senator]: "How now? Is not an Italian senator to be preferred to a provincial senator!?"

Claudius: "I will soon explain this point to you, when I submit that part of my acts which I performed as censor, but I do not conceive it needful to repel even the provincials who can do honor to the Senate House. Here is this splendid and powerful colony of Vienna [Davis: modern Vienne in the South of France]; is it so long since it sent to us senators? From that colony comes Lucius Vestinus, one of the glories of the equestrian order, my personal friend, whom I keep close to myself for the management of my private affairs. Let his sons be suffered---I pray you--- to become priests of the lowest rank, while waiting until, with the lapse of years, they can follow the advancement of their dignity. As for that robber, Valerius Asiaticus from Vienna, I will pass over his hateful name. For I detest that hero of the gymnasium, who brought the consulship into his family before even his colony had obtained the full rights of Roman citizenship. I could say as much of his brother, stamped as unworthy by this unlucky relationship, and incapable henceforth of being a useful member of your body."

[Interrupting shout]: "Here now, Tiberius Caesar Germanicus! It's time to let the Conscript Fathers understand what your talk is driving at---already you've reached the very limits of Narbonnese Gaul!"

Claudius: "All these young men of rank, on whom I cast my glance, you surely do not regret to see among the number of the senators; any more than Persicus, that most high-born gentleman and my friend, is ashamed when he meets upon the images of his ancestors the name Allobrogius. And if such is your thought, what would you desire more? Do I have to point it out to you? Even the territory which is located beyond the province of Gallia Narbonnensis, has it not already sent you senators? For surely we have no regrets in going clear up to Lugdunum [Davis: Modern Lyons in France] for the members of our order. Assuredly, Conscript Fathers, it is not without some hesitation that I cross the limits of the provinces which are well known and familiar to you, but the moment is come when I must plead openly the cause of Further Gaul. It will be objected that Gaul sustained a war against the divine Julius for ten years. But let there be opposed to this the memory of a hundred years of steadfast fidelity, and a loyalty put to the proof in many trying circumstances. My father, Drusus, was able to force Germany to submit, because behind him reigned a profound peace assured by the tranquillity of the Gauls. And note well, that at the moment he was summoned to that war, he was busy instituting the census in Gaul, a new institution among them, and contrary to their customs. And how difficult and perilous to us is this business of the census, although all we require is that our public resources should be known, we have learned by all too much experience.

*

Tacitus: Admitting Provincials to the Senate, 48 CE

In 48 CE the emperor Claudius filled some vacancies in the Senate with some Roman citizens from Gaul. This began the process of extending the Senate to be a body with members from the entire Empire. His activity, and speech on the issue, was recorded by Tacitus. An inscription of part of Claudius' speech also survives.

In the consulship of Aulus Vitellius and Lucius Vipstanus the question of filling up the Senate was discussed, and the chief men of Gallia Comata, as it was called, who had long possessed the rights of allies and of Roman citizens, sought the privilege of obtaining public offices at Rome. There was much talk of every kind on the subject, and it was argued before the emperor with vehement opposition. "Italy," it was asserted, "is not so feeble as to be unable to furnish its own capital with a senate. Once our native-born citizens sufficed for peoples of our own kin, and we are by no means dissatisfied with the Rome of the past. To this day we cite examples, which under our old customs the Roman character exhibited as to valour and renown. Is it a small thing that Veneti and Insubres have already burst into the Senate-house, unless a mob of foreigners, a troop of captives, so to say, is now forced upon us? What distinctions will be left for the remnants of our noble houses, or for any impoverished senators from Latium? Every place will be crowded with these millionaires, whose ancestors of the second and third generations at the head of hostile tribes destroyed our armies with fire and sword, and actually besieged the divine Julius at Alesia. These are recent memories. What if there were to rise up the remembrance of those who fell in Rome's citadel and at her altar by the hands of these same barbarians! Let them enjoy indeed the title of citizens, but let them not vulgarise the distinctions of the Senate and the honours of office."

These and like arguments failed to impress the emperor. He at once addressed himself to answer them, and thus harangued the assembled Senate. "My ancestors, the most ancient of whom was made at once a citizen and a noble of Rome, encourage me to govern by the same policy of transferring to this city all conspicuous merit, wherever found. And indeed I know, as facts, that the Julii came from Alba, the Coruncanii from Camerium, the Porcii from Tusculum, and not to inquire too minutely into the past, that new members have been brought into the Senate from Etruria and Lucania and the whole of Italy, that Italy itself was at last extended to the Alps, to the end that not only single persons but entire countries and tribes might be united under our name. We had unshaken peace at home; we prospered in all our foreign relations, in the days when Italy beyond the Po was admitted to share our citizenship, and when, enrolling in our ranks the most vigorous of the provincials, under colour of settling our legions throughout the world, we recruited our exhausted empire. Are we sorry that the Balbi came to us from Spain, and other men not less illustrious from Narbon Gaul? Their descendants are still among us, and do not yield to us in patriotism.

"What was the ruin of Sparta and Athens, but this, that mighty as they were in war, they spurned from them as aliens those whom they had conquered? Our founder Romulus, on the other hand, was so wise that he fought as enemies and then hailed as fellow-citizens several nations on the very same day. Strangers have reigned over us. That freedmen's sons should be intrusted with public offices is not, as many wrongly think, a sudden innovation, but was a common practice in the old commonwealth. But, it will be said, we have fought with the Senones. I suppose then that the Volsci and Aequi never stood in array against us. Our city was taken by the Gauls. Well, we also gave hostages to the Etruscans, and passed under the yoke of the Samnites. On the whole, if you review all our wars, never has one been finished in a shorter time than that with the Gauls. Thenceforth they have preserved an unbroken and loyal peace. United as they now are with us by manners, education, and intermarriage, let them bring us their gold and their wealth rather than enjoy it in isolation. Everything, Senators, which we now hold to be of the highest antiquity, was once new. Plebeian magistrates came after patrician; Latin magistrates after plebeian; magistrates of other Italian peoples after Latin. This practice too will establish itself, and what we are this day justifying by precedents, will be itself a precedent."

The emperor's speech was followed by a decree of the Senate, and the Aedui were the first to obtain the right of becoming senators at Rome. This compliment was paid to their ancient alliance, and to the fact that they alone of the Gauls cling to the name of brothers of the Roman people.

viernes, 26 de noviembre de 2010

A MARYAM D’ABO (La Kara Milovy de The Living Daylights)

Bella Maryam,
Era sólo un niño cuando te miraba
Tocando el chelo, manejando aviones,
Esquiando, cabalgando entre las dunas,
Siendo la heroína radiante.
Era sólo un niño cuando en ti pensaba,
Mientras hacía las tareas y esperaba
La llegada del bus haciendo versos.
¿Sabes?
Sigo siendo ese niño,
Y tú sigues siendo esa Kara
Cuyos ojos busco entre los astros,
Cuya sonrisa evoco en mis mejores sueños.
Maryam, es decir, Kara, mi dulce musa,
Sigo siendo aquél que envidia a Dalton
Y desea estar en ese palco, escuchándote,
Devorándote toda,
Disfrutando
Ese rostro de chica buena y dispuesta
A ser aún mejor a la hora del romance,
Esas manos tejedoras de música y destino.
Sigo siendo aquél que te amaba
Tan en secreto que sólo ahora te escribe
Con gratitud inmensa.
Dulce, hermosa Kara,
Te prolongas en cada saludo, en cada guiño,
En cada abrazo, en cada beso,
En cada femenino gesto que me halaga.

David Alberto Campos Vargas (Colombia)

domingo, 21 de noviembre de 2010

Traducción del discurso de John F Kennedy en Berlín - 1963

Dos mil años hace que se hiciera alarde de que se era “Civis Romanus sum”. Hoy en el mundo de la libertad se hace alarde de que “Ich bin ein Berliner”.

Hay mucha gente en el mundo que realmente no comprende o dice que no lo comprende cuál es la gran diferencia entre el mundo libre y el mundo comunista. Decidles que vengan a Berlín.

Hay algunos que dicen que el comunismo es el movimiento del futuro. Decidles que vengan a Berlín.

Hay algunos que dicen en Europa y en otras partes “nosotros podemos trabajar con los comunistas”. Decidles que vengan a Berlín.

Y hay algunos pocos que dicen que es verdad que el comunismo es un sistema diabólico pero que permite un progreso económico. Decidles que vengan a Berlín.

La libertad tiene muchas dificultades y la democracia no es perfecta. Pero nosotros no tenernos que poner un muro para mantener a nuestro pueblo, para prevenir que ellos nos dejen. Quiero decir en nombre de mis ciudadanos que viven a muchas millas de distancia en el otro lado del Atlántico, que a pesar de esta distancia de vosotros, ellos están orgullosos de lo que han hecho por vosotros, desde una distancia en la historia en los últimos 18 años.

No conozco una ciudad, ningún pueblo que haya sido asediado por dieciocho años y que vive con la vitalidad y la fuerza y la esperanza y la determinación de la ciudad de Berlín Occidental.

Mientras el muro es la más obvia y viva demostración del fracaso del sistema comunista, todo el mundo puede ver que no tenemos ninguna satisfacción en ello, para nosotros, como ha dicho el Alcalde, es una ofensa no solo contra la historia, sino también una ofensa contra la humanidad, separando familias, dividiendo maridos y esposas y hermanos y hermanas y dividiendo a la gente que quiere vivir unida.

¿Cuál es la verdad de esta ciudad de Alemania? La paz real en Europa nunca puede estar asegurada mientras a un alemán de cada cuatro se le niega el elemental derecho de ser un hombre libre, y que pueda elegir un camino libre.

En dieciocho años de paz y buena confianza esta generación de alemanes ha percibido el derecho a ser libre, incluyendo el derecho a la unión de sus familias, a la unión de su nación en paz y buena voluntad con todos los pueblos.

Vosotros vivís en una defendida isla de libertad, pero vuestra vida es parte de lo más importante. Permitirme preguntaros a vosotros como yo concluyo, elevando vuestros ojos por encima de los peligros de hoy y las esperanzas de mañana, más allá de la libertad meramente de esta ciudad de Berlín y todos los pueblos de Alemania avanzan hacia la libertad, más allá del muro al día de la paz con justicia, más allá de vosotros o nosotros de toda la humanidad.

La libertad es indivisible y cuando un hombre es esclavizado ¿quién está libre? Cuando todos son libres, ellos pueden mirar a ese día, cuando esta ciudad está reunida y este país y este gran continente de Europa esté en paz y esperanza.

Cuando ese día finalmente llegue y la gente del Berlín Occidental pueda tener una moderada satisfacción en el hecho de que ellos están en la línea del frente casi dos décadas.

Todos los hombres libres, dondequiera que ellos vivan, son ciudadanos de Berlín. Y por lo tanto, como hombres libres, yo con orgullo digo estas palabras “Ich bin ein Berliner”.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (Estados Unidos, 1917-1963)
Berlín
11 de junio de 1963

martes, 16 de noviembre de 2010

Soy Libre

Soy libre.
Atrás han quedado las condenas
(muchas de ellas autoimpuestas)
Atrás han quedado los temores
Atrás y para siempre el Aquelarre.
Soy libre,
Libre y victorioso
Como el mundo en primavera
Como el niño que juega y goza
Como este poema que es canto del alma.
Libre, completo, en comunión con la Vida
(y sus devenires).

David Alberto Campos Vargas (Colombia)

sábado, 13 de noviembre de 2010

Dos poemas de Tagore

REGALO DE AMANTE

Anoche, en el jardín, te ofrecí el vino espumeante
de mi juventud. Tu te llevaste la copa a los labios,
cerraste los ojos y sonreíste;
y mientras, yo alcé tu velo, solté tus trenzas y traje sobre mi pecho tu cara dulcemente silenciosa; anoche,
cuando el sueño de la luna rebosó el mundo del dormir.

Hoy, en la calma, refrescada de rocío, del alba, tú vas camino del templo de Dios, bañada y vestida de blanco,
con un cesto de flores en la mano. Yo, a la sombra del árbol, me aparto inclinando la cabeza; en la calma del alba,
junto al camino solitario del templo.


SI ACASO PIENSAS EN MÍ

Si acaso piensas en mí, te cantaré cuando el anochecer lluvioso
suelta sus sombras por el río, arrastrando, lento, su luz vaga hacia el ocaso;
cuando lo que queda del día es ya demasiado poco para trabajar o jugar.
Te sentarás sola en el balcón que da al Sur, y yo me pondré a cantarte
en el cuarto oscuro. El olor de las hojas mojadas entrará por la ventana,
en el crepúsculo creciente, y los vientos tormentosos
clamorearán en los cocoteros.
Traerán la lámpara encendida al cuarto, y entonces me iré yo. Y tú, quizá, entonces, escucharás la noche,
y oirás mi canción cuando esté yo callado

Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)

Poeta, filósofo y pintor indio nacido en Calcuta en 1861. Recibió la educación básica en casa donde existió un gran ambiente intelectual. La primera parte de su obra está contenida en "Carta de un viajero en Europa" 1881, "Canciones del atardecer" 1882 y "El despertar de la fuente" 1882. Después de su matrimonio en 1883, continuó su larga carrera literaria, destacándose especialmente como poeta, con obras como "Gitanjali" 1912, "El Jardinero" 1913, "Luna Creciente" 1913, "Punashcha" 1932, "Shes Saptak" 1935, y "Patraput" 1936. En 1913 recibió el Premio Nobel de Literatura.

miércoles, 3 de noviembre de 2010

Poemas de Paul Verlaine

ARIA DE ANTAÑO

"Son joyeux, importum, d'un clavecin sonore"

Petrus Borel


Lucen vagamente las teclas del piano
a la luz del suave crepúsculo rosa,
y bajo los finos dedos de su mano

un aire de antaño canta y se querella
en la diminuta cámara suntuosa
en donde palpitan los perfumes de Ella.

Un plácido ensueño mi espíritu mece
mientras que el teclado sus notas desgrana;
¿por qué me acaricia, por qué me enternece

esa canción dulce, llorosa e incierta
que apaciblemente muere en la ventana
a las tibias auras del jardín abierta...?

Versión de Eduardo Castillo




CANCIÓN DE OTOÑO


Los sollozos más hondos
del violín del otoño
son igual
que una herida en el alma
de congojas extrañas
sin final.

Tembloroso recuerdo
esta huida del tiempo
que se fue.
Evocando el pasado
y los días lejanos
lloraré.

Este viento se lleva
el ayer de tiniebla
que pasó,
una mala borrasca
que levanta hojarasca
como yo.

Versión de Carlos Fujol



EL HOGAR Y LA LÁMPARA DE RESPLANDOR PEQUEÑO...


El hogar y la lámpara de resplandor pequeño;
la frente entre las manos en busca del ensueño;
y los ojos perdidos en los ojos amados;
la hora del té humeante y los libros cerrados;
el dulzor de sentir fenecer la velada,
la adorable fatiga y la espera adorada
de la sombra nupcial y el ensueño amoroso.
¡Oh! ¡Todo esto, mi ensueño lo ha perseguido ansioso,
sin descanso, a través de mil demoras vanas,
impaciente de meses, furioso de semanas!

Versión de Luis Garnier



GREEN

Te ofrezco entre racimos, verdes gajos y rosas,
mi corazón ingenuo que a tu bondad se humilla;
no quieran destrozarlo tus manos cariñosas,
tus ojos regocije mi dádiva sencilla.

en el jardín umbroso mi cuerpo fatigado
las auras matinales cubrieron de rocío;
como en la paz de un sueño se deslice a tu lado
el fugitivo instante que reposar ansío.

Cuando en mis sienes calme la divina tormenta,
reclinaré, jugando con tus bucles espesos,
sobre tu núbil seno mi frente soñolienta,
sonora con el ritmo de tus últimos besos.

Versión de Víctor M. Londoño



LAS CONCHAS

Cada concha incrustada
En la gruta donde nos amamos,
Tiene su particularidad.

Una tiene la púrpura de nuestras almas,
Hurtada a la sangre de nuestros corazones,
Cuando yo ardo y tú te inflamas;

Esa otra simula tus languideces
Y tu palidez cuando, cansada,
Me reprochas mis ojos burlones;

Esa de ahí imita la gracia
De tu oreja, y aquella otra
Tu rosada nuca, corta y gruesa;

Pero una, entre todas, es la que me turba.


Paul Verlaine (Francia, 1844-1896)