Juan Ramon Jimenez - Full Consciousness
Ivan M. Granger September 19th, 2008
Full Consciousness
by Juan Ramon Jimenez
English version by Robert Bly
You are carrying me, full consciousness, god that has desires,
all through the world.
Here, in the third sea,
I almost hear your voice: your voice, the wind,
filling entirely all movements;
eternal colors and eternal lights,
sea colors and sea lights.
Your voice of white fire
in the universe of water, the ship, the sky,
marking out the roads with delight,
engraving for me with a blazing light my firm orbit:
a black body
with the glowing diamond in its center.
— from News of the Universe: Poems of Twofold Consciousness, Edited by Robert Bly
/ Photo by ♥Blackangelツ /
It’s been too long since we had a poem by Juan Ramon Jimenez. (Thank you, Silvine, for introducing me to his poetry several years ago.)
…filling entirely all movements;
eternal colors and eternal lights…
Have a beautiful weekend!
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Juan Ramon Jimenez
Spain (1881 - 1958) Timeline |
Juan Ramon Jimenez was the son of a banker. He grew up in Moguer, a beautiful region of Spain that deeply imprinted itself on the poet. Jimenez studied painting at the University of Seville before abandoning his schoolwork to dedicate himself completely to writing.
In the early 1900s, Jimenez composed several collections of poetry, and he also translated the work of Hindu poet Rabindranath Tagore into Spanish (with Zenobia Camprubi, who later became his wife). Later in his career he also became an influential literary critic. (Despite his great poetic work, in the US Jimenez first gained notoriety for his novel Platero y yo/Platero and I.)
When the Spanish Civil War broke out, he was sent by the Republican faction to the US as an honorary cultural attache. When the fascist forces under Franco took control of Spain, Jimenez and his wife settled in Puerto Rico and Cuba.
Themes of nature, depths, immensity, death, darkness, secret life, and transcendence appear in many of his poems. The spirituality reflected in his poetry is deeply personal, mystical, and transformative.
In 1956, Juan Ramon Jimenez was awarded the Nobel Prize. He died two years later in Puerto Rico.
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I love Jimenez’s poetry. I’m especially drawn to “Love is a lion that feeds on human hearts…”
Thanks,
Shirley
ivan, thank you for introducing me to another great poet i seem to be drawn to…..
have a beautiful weekend,
carol
I am looking for another poem by Jimenez…it is called solitudes, I believe. it starts with words about a bell and a bird creating the expectation and waiting held indefinitely. Does anyone have it? thanks.
Gail
I was incorrect…it is called The Great Voice, but I can’t find it or a translation of it in english.
If anyone knows would you please let me know. thanks.
Gail
Help me, please!!!
I am looking for the poem of Huan Ramon Himenes “La perdida” in Spanish “The loss” in English. I need an English version. I am from Kyrgyzstan, and my English is not good, I am apologizing for my mistakes.This poem is required for the short film, because the director of this film (my friend) is going to take part in international festival. So it is very important for us.
I will appreciate any information! Thanks in advance!!
Hello Naziken,
I did a search on the Internet, and I was only able to find one translation of “La perdida” in English. I imagine there are some better versions out there, but here is the one I found:
Endless is the night around
And a way is black:
He, who dies, is going out –
And can’t be turned back.
He’s gone further from all hopes
In his somber stroll;
But a thought to die the both
Is the wrong at all.
It’s not easier if you mount
The same cross’s bar –
All the same one’s going out
For his own star.
Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, December, 2002
http://www.poetryloverspage.com/yevgeny/miscellaneous/geleskool/loss.html
I hope that helps.
Ivan
Dear Ivan,
Thank you very much!!! I can not express all my gratitude!!! I also searched on the Internet but I couldn’t find. Your help is great, thank you so much!!!
Kind regards,
Naziken