Delmira Agustini -Tus ojos, esclavos moros-

Tus ojos, esclavos moros

En tu frialdad se emboscaban
Los grandes esclavos moros;
Negros y brillando en oros
De lejos me custodiaban.

Y, devorantes, soñaban
En mí no sé qué tesoros …
Tras el cristal de los lloros
Guardaban y amenazaban.

Ritmaban alas angélicas,
Ritmaban manos luzbélicas
Sus dos pantallas extrañas;

Y al yo mirarlos por juego,
Sus alabardas de fuego
Llegaron a mis entrañas.


Your eyes, moorish slaves

In your coldness were ensconced
The great Moorish slaves;
Dark and shining in golds
From a distance they guarded me.

And, devouring, they dreamt
In me, I know not what treasures …
Behind the crystal of tears
They guarded and threatened.

They beat angelic wings,
They pounded satanic hands,
Their two strange screens;

And when I looked upon them coquettishly,
Their fiery halberds
Pierced my entrails.

Translated by Alejandro Cáceres