Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Alberto Vélez

PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN

She hopes for nothing. Maybe a
Peaceful death. Or not even that. Because
Restraint is alien to her breast.
To her, everything happens among tempests.

Love struck her,
Gouged out her eyes.
But she resisted its thrusts
And lives, and perseveres in seeing,
Day after day, light
Coming through her window.

RETRATO DE MUJER

RETRATO DE MUJER

No espera nada. Acaso una
Muerte serena. Y ni eso. Porque
A su pecho es extraña la mesura.
Todo le sucede entre borrascas.

El amor la golpeó,
Le arrancó lo ojos.
Pero ella resistió sus arrebatos
Y vive, y porfía en ver,
Día a día, la luz
Entrar por su ventana.
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PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN

She hopes for nothing. Maybe a
Peaceful death. Or not even that. Because
Restraint is alien to her breast.
To her, everything happens among tempests.

Love struck her,
Gouged out her eyes.
But she resisted its thrusts
And lives, and perseveres in seeing,
Day after day, light
Coming through her window.

PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN

She hopes for nothing. Maybe a
Peaceful death. Or not even that. Because
Restraint is alien to her breast.
To her, everything happens among tempests.

Love struck her,
Gouged out her eyes.
But she resisted its thrusts
And lives, and perseveres in seeing,
Day after day, light
Coming through her window.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère