"Sabbath" by Alfonsina Storni Translated from the Argentinian Spanish by Ulyses Razo
Art by Adelaide Snow
I rose early & walked barefoot Through the halls. I stole to the gardens And kissed the plants. I soaked up the clean breath of the earth, Thrown on the grass; I bathed in the fountain that green achiras Surround. Much later, wet with water, I brushed my hair. I perfumed the hands With scented serum of sampaguita. Squeamish, Fine herons Stole blonde shreds from my dress.
Then I put on my bugle suit, lighter Than the very same gauze. With a jerk I came to the vestibule With my off-colored couch. My eyes remained fixed on the entrance, Fixed on the entrance. The clock said ten in the morning. Inside, the sound of earthenware and crystals; The dining room in shadows, hands that readied Mantels. Outside, sun like I’ve never seen Over the white marble steps. Fixed on the entrance, my eyes. Fixed. I waited for you.
1918
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Sábado
Me levanté temprano y anduve descalza por los corredores: bajé a los jardines y besé las plantas absorbí los vahos limpios de la tierra, tirada en la grama; me bañé en la fuente que verdes achiras circundan. Más tarde, mojados de agua peiné mis cabellos. Perfumé las manos con zumo oloroso de diamelas. Garzas quisquillosas, finas, de mi falda hurtaron doradas migajas. Luego puse traje de clarín más leve que la misma gasa. De un salto ligero llevé hasta el vestíbulo mi sillón de paja. Fijos en la verja mis ojos quedaron, fijos en la verja. El reloj me dijo: diez de la mañana. Adentro un sonido de loza y cristales: comedor en sombra; manos que aprestaban manteles. Afuera, sol como no he visto sobre el mármol blanco de la escalinata. Fijos en la verja siguieron mis ojos, fijos. Te esperaba.
1918
Alfonsina Storni (1892–1938) was an Argentinian writer, single mother, and teacher. Her nonconformist poetry is credited as one of the first influential examples of female eroticism in Spanish language poetry. She authored many collections of verse, including "Mundo de siete pozos" (Editorial Tor, 1934), "Poemas de amor" (Editorial Palabrerías, 1926), and "Languidez" (Cooperativa Editorial, 1920), which won the Primer Premio Municipal and the Segundo Premio Nacional de Literatura in Argentina. She died on October 25, 1938.
Ulyses Razo is an American writer. His poems have been featured in Hobart, ShitWonder, SARKA, Amygdala Journal, and elsewhere. He is the author of Murders & Other Poems (Ghost City Press, 2024) and lives in London.
Adelaide Snow is a multimedia artist from Washington State, and a BFA student at Brooklyn College, where she is also pursuing a Bachelor's degree in History. With a focus on soft sculpture and assemblage, Adelaide explores the relationships between place and emotion. Her work invites viewers to reflect on the connections between space and feeling, hoping to merge historical context with contemporary practices. In her free time, Adelaide enjoys playing instruments with friends, biking aimlessly, and a good puzzle.
