Ah, by the Golden Lilies

Journal of Canadian Studies, Winter 2004 by Page, P K

After the conference, RK. Page wrote the three following glosas:

...ah by the golden lilies,

the tepid, golden water,

the yellow butterflies

over the yellow roses...

- Juan Ramon Jimenez, "Yellow Spring"

Jimenez, but for the roses

you paint a Rio garden

where every golden morning

the golden sunlight spills

on my Brazilian breakfast

coffee like bitter aloes

strawberry-fleshed papayas

the sensuous persimmon...

My young head full of follies

ah, by the golden lilies.

Beneath the cassia boughs

where fallen yellow blossoms

reflect a mirror image

I barefoot in the petals

trample a yellow world

while small canaries flutter

over the lotus pond.

I trail my golden fingers

for I am Midas' daughter

in the tepid, golden water.

My blue and gold macaw

laughs his demented laughter

dilates his golden pupils

a golden spider spins

a spangled golden web

for beauty-loving flies.

Above the cassia branches

the cassia-coloured sun.

Above the yellow lilies

the yellow butterflies.

Jimenez, I am freed

by all this golden clangour

Jimnez, your roses

denote a falling sound

a sound that will not rhyme

with sambas jocosas

macumba, feijoada

Bahian vatapa

A different sun disposes

over the yellow roses.

- RK. Page