African eyes - Medardo Ángel Silva

The poem Ojos Africanos by the Ecuadorian poet Medardo Ángel Silva.

Ojos Africanos

African Eyes

Ayer miré unos ojos africanos en una linda empleada de una tienda Eran ojos de noche y de leyenda eran ojos de trágicos arcanos... Eran ojos tan negros, tan gitanos, vagabundos y enfermos, ojos serios que encierran cierto encanto de misterios y cierta caridad con los hermanos... Ayer miré unos ojos de leyenda en una linda empleada de una tienda ojos de huríes, débiles, huraños. Quiero que me devuelva la mirada que tiene su pupila apasionada con el lazo sutil de sus pestañas.

Yesterday I looked at some African eyes from a pretty clerk at a store They were the eyes of night and legend they were arcane tragic eyes... They were eyes so black, so gypsy, homeless and debilitated, serious eyes that contain a certain charm of mysteries and some charity with the brothers... Yesterday I looked at legendary eyes from a pretty clerk at a store houris' eyes, fragile, skittish. I want her to give me in return the look available in her passionate pupil with the subtle bow of her eyelashes.

Note: The English version available in this post is a loose translation from the original text.

---

About The Poet

Medardo Ángel Silva (1898-1919) is an Ecuadorian writer, poet. He is recognized as one of the exponents of modernism in Ecuadorian poetry. Belonged to "Generación Decapitada" with 3 other poets (Ernesto Noboa and Caamaño, Arturo Borja and Humberto Fierro). Considered a cholo (mixed race), he was the only poet of this generation from a lower class and darker skin, which brought him greater difficulties. Several of his poems were turned into songs, the most recognized is "El alma en los labios".