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First dream, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz


For N.P.

First dream

Pyramidal, funereal and Earthen
Born like shadow and aimed in vain
Like the raised point of an obelisk
Set towards the sky.
Climbing and striving in vain for the stars
Which, though beautiful ,
Sparkle and are exempt,
Far from the vapour of war,
From it's fugitive shade
They mock at a distance.
The frowning bronze of their rays
Failing to touch the convex surface of this globe.
Property of the of the Goddess,
Who is thrice beautiful,
And Boasts three beautiful faces
And who owns the air that she blots and soaks
With the denseness of her breath.
So that in this quiet and contentment
In this imperial silence,
Even the voices of the night birds,
So dark and grave
That even the silence won't interrupt them,
Consent.

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

[ my translation ]
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