Creía yo
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Creía yo ("I Believed") is a short poem in Spanish written in 1953 by Macedonio Fernández, which has much to say on the power struggle of the trinity of life occurrences, Life, Love, and Death. In the poetry of Macedonio, these three characters play a large role as important aspects of every person’s life.
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[edit] Text
[edit] Spanish original
Creía yo
No a todo alcanza Amor, pues que no puede
romper el gajo con que Muerte toca.
Mas poco Muerte logra si en corazón de Amor su miedo muere.
Mas poco Muerte logra, pues no puede
entrar su miedo en pecho donde Amor.
Que Muerte rige a Vida; Amor a Muerte.
- Poemas, 1953.
[edit] English translation
I Believed
Love reaches not all, for it can not
break the shoot Death touches with.
But little Death gets
if in heart of Love its fear dies.
But little Death gets, since it can not
put its fear into chest where Love.
Since Death rules Life; Love rules Death.
[edit] Commentary
Throughout the seven lined poem, Macedonio maintains a constant rhythm and beat by writing each verse, except for the third, with eleven syllables. In order to keep this length consistent, synalephas were utilized throughout. At the same time, Macedonio retains a soft, calm sound in his words with many uses of alliteration. In the listening to Creía yo being read out loud, it is obvious that this poem was written with euphony in mind. It is this style that adds to the concept that Love, though subtle and delicate, is much stronger than Death. Another form of alliteration that is utilized can be found in the vocals of the poem as well. “Mas poco Muerte puede, pues no puede” In this one verse alone, the sounds of “m,” “ue,” and “p” are used often. Yet these three sounds are also consistently used throughout the poem to maintain the steady pattern of sound. The rhyme scheme for the poem is ABAAACA.
[edit] Notes on English version
The translation may not be perfect, but it adequately conveys the message and style. However, works crossing the language barrier lose much of their poetic feel. The alliteration and rhyme is lost. Like all poems, this poem is best read in the original language.
