Lines on Wood
by Limam Boicha
As I listened to that old and beautiful song
its fine words were baptised by the flames
igniting the bonfire of this poem
An incandescent lighthouse
lit up a solitary boat
guiding it
through the tropics
to the safe haven
of the Caribbean
But I listened to that song
and in the smoke of the bonfire
its poetry
sparked
The literal translation of this poem was made by Tom Boll
The final translated version of the poem is by Sarah Maguire
© Poetry Translation Centre 2004-2013
Renee says:
I really love this peom! Im using it for a Spanish class in which I have to memorize, recite, and write a paper on the meaning of a spanish poem. This peom is absolutly perfect for my project, not to mention beautiful. Props to the author of the original and both translated versions. Absolutly beautiful.