Words and Verse
When I was Born (Translation-Galician)
This is the second poem by Rosalía de Castro which I post on my site. This one exprimes her domestic saddness, and was published in her Cantares Galegos.
I was born at birth of blossoms,
Born when gardens grew anew,
In a dawn so very gentle,
In a dawn of April blue.
So I'm Rosa which is why I've
Got this rueful smile, it's true,
And a thorn for everybody
(Never, though, a thorn for you)
Since I spoke my love (and little
Thanks I had for it) I threw
All my life away, believing
You my life and glory too.
Why then this complaining Mauro?
Why this hate you put me through?
If my dying made you happy,
Happily I'd die for you.
But you stab me with your daggar
Spiked with rancor, rage and rue.
Never found out what you really
Wanted from me. Never knew.
All I had to give I gave you
In my hungering for you.
Even now, my heart I send you
With its one unlocking key.
I've got nothing left to give you,
You've no more to ask of me.
And the original for those who wish:
Nasín cand' as prantas nasen,
No mes das froles nasín,
Nunha alborada mainiña,
Nunha alborada d'abril.
Por eso me chaman Rosa,
Mais á do triste sorrir,
Con espiñas para todos,
Sin ningunha para ti.
Dés que te quixen, ingrato,
Todo acabou para min,
Que eras ti para mín todo,
Miña groria e meu vivir.
¿De qué, pois, te queixas, Mauro?
¿De qué, pois, te queixas, di,
Cando sabes que morrera
Por te contemplar felís?
Duro cravo me encravaches
Con ese teu maldesir,
Con ese teu pedir tolo
Que non sei qué quer de min,
Pois dinche canto dar puden
Avariciosa de ti,
O meu coraçón che mando
C'unha chave para ó abrir;
Nin eu teño máis que darche,
Nin ti máis que me pedir.
I was born at birth of blossoms,
Born when gardens grew anew,
In a dawn so very gentle,
In a dawn of April blue.
So I'm Rosa which is why I've
Got this rueful smile, it's true,
And a thorn for everybody
(Never, though, a thorn for you)
Since I spoke my love (and little
Thanks I had for it) I threw
All my life away, believing
You my life and glory too.
Why then this complaining Mauro?
Why this hate you put me through?
If my dying made you happy,
Happily I'd die for you.
But you stab me with your daggar
Spiked with rancor, rage and rue.
Never found out what you really
Wanted from me. Never knew.
All I had to give I gave you
In my hungering for you.
Even now, my heart I send you
With its one unlocking key.
I've got nothing left to give you,
You've no more to ask of me.
And the original for those who wish:
Nasín cand' as prantas nasen,
No mes das froles nasín,
Nunha alborada mainiña,
Nunha alborada d'abril.
Por eso me chaman Rosa,
Mais á do triste sorrir,
Con espiñas para todos,
Sin ningunha para ti.
Dés que te quixen, ingrato,
Todo acabou para min,
Que eras ti para mín todo,
Miña groria e meu vivir.
¿De qué, pois, te queixas, Mauro?
¿De qué, pois, te queixas, di,
Cando sabes que morrera
Por te contemplar felís?
Duro cravo me encravaches
Con ese teu maldesir,
Con ese teu pedir tolo
Que non sei qué quer de min,
Pois dinche canto dar puden
Avariciosa de ti,
O meu coraçón che mando
C'unha chave para ó abrir;
Nin eu teño máis que darche,
Nin ti máis que me pedir.
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When I was Born (Translation-Galician)
When I was Born (Translation-Galician)
