Spanish-English translation by David Eduardo Torres Alvarez

SPANISH

‘La Anunciación’

Rosario Castellanos

This poem presents a use of ellipsis in which the author never explicitly indicates her relation to the addressee. Given its religious images, it could be

I Porque desde el principio me estabas destinado. Antes de las edades del trigo y de la alondra y aun antes de los peces. Cuando Dios no tenía más que horizontes de ilimitado azul y el universo era una voluntad no pronunciada. Cuando todo yacía en el regazo divino, entremezclado y confundido, yacíamos tú y yo totales, juntos. Pero vino el castigo de la arcilla. Me tomó entre sus dedos, desgarrándome de la absoluta plenitud antigua. Modeló mis caderas y mis hombros, me encendió de vigilias sin sosiego y me negó el olvido. Yo sabía que estabas dormido entre las cosas y respiraba el aire para ver si te hallaba y bebía de las fuentes como para beberte. Huérfana de tu peso dulce sobre mi pecho, sin nombre mientras tú no descendieras languidecía, triste, en el destierro. un cántaro vacío semejaba nostálgico de vinos generosos y de sonoras e inefables aguas. Una cítara muda parecía. No podía siquiera morir como el que cae aflojando los músculos en una brusca renunciación. Me flagelaba la feroz certidumbre de tu ausencia, adelante, buscando tu huella o tus señales. No podía morir porque aguardaba.

read as addressed to an unborn child, as if Mary was reciting it to Jesus; but it could also be read as if written to a lover.

ENGLISH

‘The Annunciation’

translated by David Eduardo Torres Alvarez

I Because from the beginning you were destined to me. Before the ages of the wheat and the lark and even before the fish. When God had no more than horizons of unlimited blue, and the universe was an unpronounced will. When everything lay on the divine lap, intermingled and confused, you and I we laid whole, together. But then came the punishment of clay. He took me between his fingers, tearing me from the absolute plenitude of old. He moulded my hips and my shoulders, He lit me up with restless vigils, and denied me oblivion. I knew you were sleeping among the things and I breathed the air to see if I could find you and I drank from the fountains as if to drink you. Orphan of your sweet weight upon my chest, without a name until your descent I languished, sad, in exile. I was like an empty pitcher nostalgic of copious wines and of sonorous and ineffable waters. I seemed to be like a mute zither. I could not even die like the one who falls loosening the muscles in an abrupt renunciation. I was flogged by the ferocious certitude of your absence, ahead, finding your trace or your signs. I could not die because I waited.

Porque desde el principio me estabas destinado era mi soledad un tránsito sombrío y un ímpetu de fiebre inconsolable.

II Porque habías de venir a quebrantar mis huesos y cuando Dios les daba consistencia pensaba en hacerlos menores que tu fuerza. Dócil a tu ademán redondo mi cintura y a tus orejas vírgenes mi voz, disciplinada en intangibles sílabas de espuma. Multiplicó el latido de mis sienes, organizó las redes de mis venas y ensanchó las planicies de mi espalda. Y yo medí mis pasos por la tierra para no hacerte daño. Porque ante ti que estás hecho de nieve y de vellones cándidos y pétalos debo ser como un arca y como un templo: ungida y fervorosa, elevada en incienso y en campanas.

Porque habías de venir a quebrantar mis huesos, mis huesos, a tu anuncio, se quebrantan.

III Para que tú lo habites quisiera depararte un mundo esclarecido de céfiros, laureles, fosforescentes algas, litorales sin término, grutas de fino musgo y cielos de palomas.

IV He aquí que te anuncias. Entre contradictorios ángeles te aproximas., como una suave música te viertes, como un vaso de aromas y de bálsamos.

Por humilde me exaltas, Tu mirada, benévola, transforma mis llagas en ardientes esplendores.

He aquí que te acercas y me encuentras rodeada de plegarias como de hogueras altas.

Because from the beginning you were destined to me my loneliness was a sombre transit and an impetus of inconsolable fever.

II Because you had to come to break my bones and when God was granting them consistency, He was thinking of making them weaker than your strength. Docile to your gesture He rounded my waistline and so, to your virgin ears my voice, disciplined in intangible syllables of foam. He multiplied the beat of my temples, He organized the networks of my veins and widened the plains of my back. And I measured my steps on Earth not to hurt you. Because in front of you who are made of snow, and of candid fleeces and petals I must be like an ark and like a temple: anointed and fervent, elevated in incense and bells.

Because you had to come to break my bones, my bones, at your announcement, break.

III For you to inhabit I would like to yield a world enlightened by zephyrs, laurels, phosphorescent seaweeds, endless coastlines, caves of fine moss and skies of doves.

IV Behold, you announce yourself. Amidst contradictory angels you approach me, like a soft music you pour yourself, like a vessel of aromas and balms.

Due to my humbleness, you exalt me, your sight, benevolent, transforms my sores into ardent splendours.

Behold, you come closer, and you find me surrounded by prayers like high bonfires.