Voy a dormir
Alfonsina Storni (1938)

Dientes de flores, cofia de rocío,
manos de hierbas, tú, nodriza fina,
tenme prestas las sábanas terrosas
y el edredón de musgos encardados.

Voy a dormir, nodriza mía, acuéstame,
ponme una lámpara a la cabecera;
una constelación; la que te guste;
todas son buenas; bájala un poquito.

Déjame sola: oyes romper los brotes…
te acuna un pie celeste desde arriba
y un pájaro te traza unos compases

para que olvides… Gracias. Ah, un encargo:
si él llama nuevamente por teléfono
le dices que no insista, que he salido…

Translation by Richard E. McDorman
© 2011

I’m Going to Sleep
Alfonsina Storni (last poem, 1938)

Teeth of petals, bonnet of dew,
handfuls of herbs, oh sweet nursemaid,
turn the earthly sheets down for me
and prepare my quilt of  carded moss.

I’m going to sleep, my nursemaid—lay me down;
put a lamp on the nightstand for me,
or a constellation, whichever you like—
both are fine; turn the lights down a bit.

Now leave me alone and hear the buds break …
as you’re rocked by a heavenly foot from above,
and a bird zigzags you a path

so that you can forget … Thank you. Oh, a favor:
if he calls again
tell him not to insist, for I have gone away …

Special thanks to poet and translator Dan Bellm, Instructor of Translation at New York University, for his very helpful advice and assistance with this translation.