Amends
I have witnessed the cavalcade directed toward a meridional kingdom, under the command of an agreeable lady. I saw the imitation of spring and of her bizarre escort.
Each man was on foot in front of the palfrey of his chosen woman, leading it by the right hand, and was listening to some mirthful or gallant tale from his companion. In this manner they were driving away melancholy, following the instructions imposed for the journey by the sovereign of the retinue.
I had retired to a barren wilderness, where I was simulating the fulfillment of a penance assigned by the lady of my devotion, discontent with my eccentric ways.
The ladies of the retinue heard amid laughter the story of my mistake and decided to take me with them, in the hopes of attaining my absolution.
I joined the company of nobles and adopted their delirious happiness, mounted on a recalcitrant ass.
I fell on my knees in front of my lady, while the others persuaded her in a noisy chorus. The most beautiful of all of them meanwhile was adapting a paper crown to my head.
The lady of my thoughts lifted me from humiliation, stretching out her right arm to me.
Las formas del fuego (1929)
{ José Antonio Ramos Sucre, Obra completa, Caracas: Biblioteca Ayacucho, 1989 }
No comments:
Post a Comment