WEALTH

I have the faithful

and the lost bliss:

the one as rose,

the other as thorn.

What they stole from me

did not leave me properly less:

I have the faithful

and the lost bliss:

and I’m rich of purple.

and melancholy.

Oh, what a lover is the rose

and how beloved the thorn!

As the double contour

of two twin fruits,

I have the faithful

and the lost bliss . . .

GABRIELA MISTRAL, Chile, 1889 – 1957

Translation: Germain Droogenbroodt – Stanley Barkan

Riqueza // Tengo la dicha fiel/y la dicha perdida:/la una como rosa,/la otra como espina./De lo que me robaron/no fui desposeída:/tengo la dicha fiel/y la dicha perdida,/y estoy rica de púrpura/y de melancolía./¡Ay, qué amante es la rosa/y qué amada la espina!/Como el doble contorno/de dos frutas mellizas,/tengo la dicha fiel/y la dicha perdida….