Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer -Rima LXXXIX. Negros fantasmas...-

Rima LXXXIX. Negros fantasmas...

Negros fantasmas,
nubes sombrías,
huyen ante el destello
de la luz divina.
Esa luz santa,
niña de negros ojos,
es la esperanza.

Al calor de sus rayos
mi fe gigante
contra desdenes lucha
sin amenguarse.
en este empeño
es, si grande el martirio,
mayor el premio.

Y si aún muestras esquiva
alma de nieve,
si aún no me quisieras,
yo no he de quererte:
mi amor es roca
donde se estrellan tímidas
del mal las olas.


Rhyme LXXXIX. Black phantoms...

Black phantoms,
shadowy clouds,
flee before the sparkle
of the divine light.
That holy light,
girl of black eyes,
is hope.

In the heat of its rays
my immense faith
grapples with disdain
undiminished.
In this undertaking,
if great is the martyrdom,
greater is the prize.

And if you still shun demonstration
soul of snow,
if you still don't desire me,
I don't need your desire:
my love is a rock
on which the waves of suffering
break timidly.

Translated by H. Landman