Times Alone: Selected Poems of Antonio Machado

Two Poems from "The Countryside of Soria"

T W O P O E M S F R O M "THE C O U N T R Y S I D E OF S O R I A " The ground around Soria is washed out and cold. Through the ridges and the bald peaks, the miniature green meadows, the ash-colored hills, spring travels leaving white margarita blossoms behind among the wild-smelling grasses. The earth does not awake, the country sleeps on. Moncayo's spine carries snow in early April; Those walking wear scarves protecting throat and mouth, and the shepherds go past hidden in their trailing capes. [9i] i 1Soria fria. Soria pura, cabeza de Extremadura, con su castillo guerrero arruinado, sobre el Duero; con sus murallas roidas y sus casas denegridas! jMuerta ciudad de senores soldados o cazadores; de portales con escudos de cien linajes hidalgos, y de famelicos galgos, de galgos flacos y agudos, que pululan por las sordidas callejas, y a la medianoche ululan, cuando graznan las cornejasl ]Soria fria! La campana de la Audiencia da la una. Soria, ciudad castellana [tan bellal bajo la luna. [92] 2 Cold Soria, intense Soria, head of Estremadura, your military castle by the Duero thrown down, your walls eaten away, and houses turning black! Dead city of knights, harquebusiers or hunters; elaborate door frames identifying lineages, tense and lean greyhounds, starving greyhounds as well who breed abundantly in the filthy alleys and howl at midnight when the crows caw! Cold Soria! The bells on the courthouse announce one. Soria, Castilian city— so beautiful!—under the moon. [93] 2 ...