Though you tell me not


I know you love me, though you tell me not,

I know you hold me captive for always

in the strong nets of your life,

celestial thurible of a perennial dream


Though you tell me not that without me you cannot live,

my desire tells me 'tis all true:

that many sad flowers girdle your forehead

if when depressed, you think of an awakening.


What shall I tell you? I look at you... and I am silent.

Well do you comprehend now my deep silence.

The star turned flower in the distant sky

contemplates its shadow on the waters without fear.


Let my sorrow on your breast repose,

like a weary traveling dove.

Beneath the tepid shade of the tranquil orchard

let us the kind caress of peace enjoy.


May repose be a song, a serenade,

while in the hour serene we baste

the ripened dreams of past epochs

that with effluvium fill our old souls.


Though you tell me not you think of me,

that all of me in your heart you keep,

return to remembrance shall I and finding you,

though you tell me not I shall know it is love!


(translated by Alfredo S. Veloso)

i love you and only you

I know you love me though you may not tell me,
I know that you hold me captive for always
in the powerful nets of your own life,
celestial censer of a perennial dream.

Though you may not say that without me you can’t live,
my yearning tells me that it’s all true;
many sad flowers wreathe your forehead
when burdened you think of an awakening.

What am I to tell you? I look at you... and fall into silence.
My deep silences you already comprehend quite well.
The star transformed into flower in the distant sky
contemplates, unafraid, in the waters its shadow.

Let my sorrow on your chest repose,
like a weary traveling dove.
In the tepid shade of the tranquil orchard
let us delight in the gratifying caress of peace.

May repose be a song, a serenade,
while in the serene hour we baste
ripened dreams of times past
that fill with emanations our old souls.

Though you may not tell me that you think of me,
that all of me in your heart you keep,
I shall return to remembrance and finding you,
though you may not tell me, I’ll know it is love