Pablo Neruda: Ode to Summer | translated by Wally Swist

Oda al Verano

Verano, violin rojo,

nube clara,

un zumbido

de sierra

o de cigarra

te precede,

el cielo abovedado,

liso, luciente como

un ojo,

y bago su mirada,

verano,

pez del cielo

infinito

elitro lisonjero,

perezoso

letargo,

barriguita

de abeja,

sol

emdiablado,

sol terrible y patermo,

sudoroso

como um buey trabajando,

sol seco

em la caberza

como um imesperado

garrotazo,

sol de la sed

amdamdo

por la arema,

verano,

mar desierto,

el minero

de azufre

se llama

de sudor amarillo,

el aviador

recorre

rayo a rayo

el sol celeste,

sudor

negro 

resbala

de la frente 

a los ojos 

en la mina 

de Lota,

se restriega

la frente

negra,

arden

las sementaras,

cruje

el trigo,

imsectos

azules

buscan

sombra,

tocan

la frescura,

sumergem

la cabeza

em um diamate.

Oh verano

abudante,

carro

de manzanas

maduras,

boca 

de fresca

em la verdure, labios

de ciruela salvaje,

caminos

de suave polvo

emcima

del polvo,

mediodia,

tambor 

de cobre rojo,

y em la tarde

descansa

el fuego,

el aire

hace bailar

el trebol, entra

en la usina  desierta,

sube

una estrella

fresca

por el cielo

sombrio,

crepita

sin quemarse

la noche

del verano.

---

Ode to Summer

Summer, red violin,

clear cloud,

a buzz

saw

or cicada

precedes you,

the vaulted

sky,

smooth, shiny

as an eye,

and under your gaze,

summer,

fish from

the infinite sky

flattering elytron,

lethargic

bee belly,

devilish

sun,

terrible and paternal

sun, 

sweaty

like a working ox,

dry sun

on the head

like an unexpected

club,

sun of thirst

walking

on the sand,

summer,

desert sea,

the Sulphur miner

fills

with yellow sweat,

the aviator

travels

ray to ray

the celestial sun,

black

sweat

runs

from forehead

to eyes

in the Lota mine,

the miner

rubs 

his black

forehead,

the fields

burn,

the wheat

rustles,

blue

insects

seek 

shade,

they touch

freshness,

they dip

their heads

into a diamond.

Oh abundant

summer,

cartload 

of ripe apples,

strawberry

mouth

on the verdant, lips

of the wild plum,

paths

of soft dust

on top 

of soft dust,

noon,

red copper

drum,

and in the afternoon

the fire

rests,

the air

makes the clover

dance, enters

the deserted 

power plant,

a star 

rises

cool

in the somber

sky,

crackling

without burning

the summer

night.

---

Translation copyright 2022 Wally Swist.

Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto (1904 – 1973), better known by his pen name and, later, legal name Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet-diplomat and politician who won the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. Neruda became known as a poet when he was 13 years old, and wrote in a variety of styles, including surrealist poems, historical epics, overtly political manifestos, a prose autobiography, and passionate love poems such as the ones in his collection Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair (1924).

Wally Swist (born 1953) is an American poet and writer. 

Pablo Neruda’s poem is included in Vox Populi for educational use only.