NOCTURNE
The forest falls asleep and dreams,
the river does not sleep, but sings.
Among the green shadows
the ringing water flows
leaving on the dark bank
flecks of white foam.
My eyes filled with stars,
on the bottom of a boat,
I pass like an emotion
over the music of the water,
and I bear the river on my lips,
and I bear the forest in my soul.
Conrado Nalé Roxlo
Translation by Milton Ben Davis