MADRIGAL FOR THE CITY OF SANTIAGO

It rains on Santiago
my sweet love.
White camellia of air,
sunlight in a veil.

It rains on Santiago,
in the dark night.
Grass of silver and dream
covers the empty moon.

See the rain in the streets,
the lament of stone and glass.
See on the fading wind
your sea’s shadow and ash.

Your sea’s shadow and ash,
Santiago, far from the sun:
shivering in my heart,
water of ancient dawn.