The Waterwheel

by Antonio Machado

English version by Ivan M. Granger
Original Language Spanish

     Evening fell
sad and dusty.

     The water was singing
its rustic verse
in the pockets
of the weary water wheel.

     The mule was dreaming
-- poor old mule! --
to the rhythm of shadows
drowsing in the water.

     Evening fell
sad and dusty.

     I don't know which poet,
noble and divine,
joined the sorrow
of the eternal wheel

     to the sweet music
of the sleepy water
and covered your eyes
-- poor old mule!

     It must have been a poet,
noble and divine,
a heart matured
by nighttime and knowledge.

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The Waterwheel