LXIV

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer 1836 –1870

Translated from the Spanish by Mason Carnes

How beautiful it is to see the day
Arising, crowned with fire, the waves that play,–—
    Each one a gleaming sprite,–—
The air enkindled by the kiss of light!

Late in an autumn day, when rain-drops cloy
The flowers, how sweet and beautiful the joy
   To have your being fed
Upon their perfume till it’s surfeited!

Upon a winter’s eve, when silently
The snow-flakes fall, how beautiful to see
   The reddish tongues of great
And massive flames timidly palpitate!

When softly drowsiness begins to creep
Upon you, oh, how sweet it is to sleep!
   How good to drink and stuff
Ourselves! A pity ’tis, ’tis not enough!

From Poems of Gustavo Adolfo Becquer (Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd., 1891) by Gustavo Adolfo Becquer. Translated from the Spanish by Mason Carnes. This poem is in the public domain.