Tuesday, December 6, 2022

"The skin of a bull" by Salvador Espriu (my updated translation*)





Sometimes it is necessary, essential
that a man dies for a people
But an entire people must never die
for a single man:
Remember this, Sepharad.

Make sure to keep the bridges of dialogue safe
and try to understand and love
the different reasonings and tongues of all your children.
Drop by drop, let the rain fall on the seedlings
and the air cross the wide fields
like a generous extended hand.

May Sepharad live forever
through order and peace
In work and in hard-won
liberty.


"La pell de brau" by Salvador Espriu (1913 - 1985)

*Thanks to Antoni Cardona for co-translating.


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