To Eros
Because you enslave the lioness
In chains stronger than Life, bound by
A chain of roses around your arm.
Because your body is the root, the Essential bond of divergent trunks
Of pleasure and pain, sprawling plants.
Because your beautiful, firm hand emerges, Like a mystic diamond brooch
The most intoxicating dispute with Death.
Because above Space I see you,
Bridge of light, scent, and melody,
Communicating heaven and hell.
—With burning soul and somber flesh . . .
Your Mouth
My divine labor, over the Growing Rock of Pride. From a distant life,
A lively petal blew into me this morning,
A nightly kiss. Steadfast like mad, kept on going my divine labor on the stone.
When your voice melts like a sacred bell
In the sky bound note of human vibrato,
It tied its golden snare to the edge of your mouth;
—Astounding nest whirl, that mouth of yours!
Two rose petals clasping the abyss . . . —
Labor, glorious labor of pain and light;
Canvas where my spirit sowed itself!
You stay atop the rock of pride,
And I fall, endless, into the bloody abyss!
Silently…
By your lazy hands
My hair unravels;
Burning vertigo I suffer
Over two mocha mugs
By your warm pupils
Worse than mad am I driven
By the cream of your teeth
Within the strawberries of your mouth;
In flame I am torn asunder
By locking in your embrace,
Scorched by delirium
When I arise in your life,
All dressed in white.
All incensed with lilies!
Translated by Diego Jourdan Pereira
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