Katie

Hi,
A dear friend of my late brother's has asked that we read a poem at our memorial service. I'd like to have a translation for those attending who don't speak Spanish but am close to giving up...the online translators
are only a little help. It's not a very long poem:


Las tres hijas del capitan
by
Jose del Rio Sainz


Era muy viejo el capitán y viudo
Y tres hijas guapísimas tenía;
Tres silbatos, a modo de saludo,
Les mandaba el vapor cuando salía.

Desde el balcón que sobre el muelle daba
Trazaban sus pañuelos mil adioses,
Y el viejo capitán disimulaba
Su emoción entre gritos y toses.

El capitán murió... Tierra extranjera
Cayó sobre su carne aventurera,
Festín de las voraces sabandijas...

Y yo sentí un amargo desconsuelo
Al pensar que ya nunca las tres hijas
Nos dirían adiós con el pañuelo...

I'm having the most trouble with the 2nd & final verses. Any help would be so appreciated.

javidissi

Hi, I translated it but before reading it, take into account that the English version won't rhyme. I hope that doesn't matter too much.

The Captain's three daughters
by
Jose del Rio Sainz

The Captain was a too old widower
and three very handsome daughters he had;
three whistlings, in the manner of greeting,
the steamship sent to them when it sailed out.

From the balcony in front of the dock
their scarves laid out a thousand of goodbies,
and the old Captain hid
his feelings among shouting and coughing.

The Captain died... Foreign land
fell on his adventurous flesh,
feast of the voracious bugs...

And I felt a bitter grief
when I thought that never again the three daughters
would say goodbye to us with the scarf...


I hope everything works ok at the memorial service, and that this translation is helpful. Best wishes from this land!!!

Katie

javadissi...

Thank you so very much.

What a lovely, melancholy poem! The 2nd verse is
especially moving for me..."From the balcony in front of the dock, Their scarves laid out a thousand goodbyes...". The imagery is amazing-so simply said, but what a complex, poignant picture it paints.

We thank you, again, for your kind help. And I shall think of you when the poem is read.