Para decir Azul by Carmen Alardín

To say blue*

To say blue is not necessary

to have the sky between the hands,

is enough to wash the soul everyday

and capture the love.

Letting us go like this, from shadow to light,

from night to day,

only with the essential smile;

and to light an autumn in every door

with its golden sign,

so that the winter’s angel does not exterminate

the primitive root.

*Translation to English by Marjha Paulino.

Para decir azul

Para decir azul no es necesario

tener el cielo entre las manos,

basta lavar el alma cada día

y apresar al amor.

Dejarnos ir así, de sombra a luz,

de noche a día,

sólo con la sonrisa indispensable;

y encender un otoño en cada puerta

con su signo dorado,

para que no extermine el ángel del invierno

la raíz primitiva.

Image: Karolis Strautniekas 

Carmen Alardín (1933-2014) was a Mexican poet, she wrote twelve collections of poetry such as No puede detener los elefantes (1971), Canto para un amor sin fe (1976), Entreacto (1982) among others. She was also awarded with the Xavier Villaurrutia Award in 1984 for career in poetry.