At dverse, Hobgoblin asked us to attempt a poem in a foreign language. While I did spend years in Puerto Rico, my Spanish is a mite rusty; that’s why I buy bilingual volumes of Neruda, to strengthen that connection. Let’s see what you think (the English translation follows).
San Juan por la noche
Noches en la playa
de mi Borrinquen querido
Con mi amor, sin abarcas en la arena
y la aroma del mar
Besos dulces, cervezas frias
Manos entrelazarse
Estrellas bialando
por la cadencia de nos corazones
Muchos anos pasados,
yo recuerdo este amor… suave y eterno
TRANSLATION
San Juan at Night
Nights on the beach
of my beloved Puerto Rico
With my love, barefoot in the sand
and the scent of the sea
Sweet kisses, cold beer
Hands intertwined
The stars dancing
to the rhythm of our hearts
After so many years,
I remember that love… tender and eternal
© 2013 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Also at “la casa de poecia,” Poets United!
Sharp Little Pencil 
kkkkaty1
Love it…que linda!
hobgoblin2011
what a beautiful scene here. The spanish is awesome. And yes, yes, yes when purchasing the poetry of a poet based in another country, always, if possible, get the bilingual versions. I have so many and actually prefer their native tongues to the translations in almost every account. Wonderful piece here, thanks so much for sharing with us tonight.
Abruvanamedsly
This is a beatiful piece…muy bien hecho.
vivinfrance
This is lovely. My ad hoc rough translation wasn’t so wide of the mark.
lucychili
lovely memory
claudia
oh wow..what a beautiful painted and warm night scene…i wanna go to the beach now…sigh…love the spanish…fits the mood so perfect
Polly Robinson
amy, this is so beautiful, I’m hard put to say which language I prefer it in … Those final two lines ‘Muchos anos pasados, / yo recuerdo este amor… suave y eterno’ stunning.
Debbie
You always amaze me! Really beautiful, Amy!
pandamoniumcat
Just beautiful in both languages. Sounds like a wonderful memory.
Roger Green
It’s lovely. One of my great regrets is that i never went down there when my sister lived there (Santurce) for five or six years.in the 1980s.
Sharp Little Pencil
Santurce was where I lived as well, playing at the Condado Plaza Casino Bar. Ugh, worst gig ever, but the people were wonderful!!
brian miller
ah…nights on the beach, barefoot with a lover….i LOVE it….smiles….the smell of the ocean, the sound of the waves…all makes for romantic music to me….smiles…
Dick Jones
Spanish is indeed the loving tongue! A fine piece, Amy.
Mary
Just beautiful in English, Amy. (since I am not conversant in Spanish) Your words set the stage and captured the feeling so well. There is sometrhing about the sea…….Your scene and memory triggers one of mine. From Venice…long ago. In fact, here it is:
The sand was warm
as we walked barefoot
on the beach late at night
beneath Mediterranean stars
knowing that this was
only a luxury
now had allowed us
before sweeping us apart
with the waves of time.
Aren’t memories sweet?
Sharp Little Pencil
Mary, we seem to have very similar histories…. hmmm. Yours is lovely!
Mary
On another note, hope we will see you at the Poetry Pantry today or Monday as well!
Laurie Kolp
Precious memories, Amy…
Gretchen Leary
“Stars dancing to the rhythm of our hearts” Beautiful line there. 🙂
Tony
Beautiful in either language, but the Spanish has that certain extra something I think. Maybe it’s because it is a bit more exotic to my Scottish tongue and ears?
patriciaspreng
Beautiful and enticing… love those sweet memories. = )
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Patricia. Tried to find your blog, but wasn’t sure the WP site was it. I’ll keep trying! Peace, Amy
Michael (contemplativemoorings)
Mucho gusto, senora :{D
Cressida de Nova
I enjoyed this a lot.
Inside the Mind of Isadora
Hi Amer … haven’t been writing poetry. I see you are still great at it. Puerto Rico in your intro brought me here to read this one. I like your Spanish version. Well done …
abrazos y besitos … amiga
Isadora
tigerbrite
Preciosa 🙂
Sara v
Muy bueno Amita! Estoy muy impresinado con tu talento. Me disfruto mucho. 🙂
(yes, I had to double check myself on google translate–but I was close, being married to a Cuban helps me to remember those 3 years of high school Spanish…)
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