I. Dawn

Standing by my bed

In gold sandals
Dawn that very
moment awoke me

II. The Evening Star

The evening star

Is the most
beautiful
of all stars

III. Splendor Stars

Awed by her splendor

Stars near the lovely
moon cover their own
bright faces
when she
is roundest and lights
earth with her silver

- Sappho
translated by Mary Barnard

IV. White Satyr

Atop deathless narcissuses
the white satyr slept.

Huge horns made of crystal
virginized his deep brows.

The sun, a tamed dragon,
like his ladylike hands.

On the river of love
dead nymphs drifted by.

The satyr’s heart in the wind
dried out from old storms.

The syringe on the ground
was a fountain,
it had seven blue tubes
cut in glass

V. Madrigal

Like concentric waves
on the water,
your words
in my heart.

Like a bird that collides
with the wind,
your kiss
on my lips.

Like open fountains
fronting the night,
my dark eyes
on your skin.

IV. Madrigal

I’m caught
in your concentric
circles.
Like Saturn
I lug around
rings
from my dreams.
I’m not totally sunk,
I’m not rising.
My love!

– Federico García Lorca
translated by Jerome Rothenberg