Arbolé, Arbolé Poem by Federico García Lorca

Arbolé, Arbolé

Rating: 2.7


Tree, tree
dry and green.

The girl with the pretty face
is out picking olives.
The wind, playboy of towers,
grabs her around the waist.
Four riders passed by
on Andalusian ponies,
with blue and green jackets
and big, dark capes.
'Come to Cordoba, muchacha.'
The girl won't listen to them.
Three young bullfighters passed,
slender in the waist,
with jackets the color of oranges
and swords of ancient silver.
'Come to Sevilla, muchacha.'
The girl won't listen to them.
When the afternoon had turned
dark brown, with scattered light,
a young man passed by, wearing
roses and myrtle of the moon.
'Come to Granada, inuchacha.'
And the girl won't listen to him.
The girl with the pretty face
keeps on picking olives
with the grey arm of the wind
wrapped around her waist.
Tree, tree
dry and green.

Translated by William Logan

Original Spanish

Arbolé, arbolé,
seco y verdí.

La niña del bello rostro
está cogiendo aceituna.
El viento, galán de torres,
la prende por la cintura.
Pasaron cuatro jinetes
sobre jacas andaluzas,
con trajes de azul y verde,
con largas capas oscuras.
'Vente a Córdoba, muchacha.'
La niña no los escucha.
Pasaron tres torerillos
delgaditos de cintura,
con trajes color naranja
y espadas de plata antigua.
'Vente a Córdoba, muchacha.'
La niña no los escucha.
Cuando la tarde se puso
morada, con lux difusa,
pasó un joven que llevaba
rosas y mirtos de luna.
'Vente a Granada, muchacha.'
Y la niña no lo escucha.
La niña del bello rostro
sigue cogiendo aceituna,
con el brazo gris del viento
ceñido por la cintura.
Arbolé, arbolé.
Seco y verdé.

Thursday, January 1, 2004
Topic(s) of this poem: trees
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Mountain Man 04 February 2019

A date with Marisol..

0 0 Reply
Rajnish Manga 21 April 2016

The narrative reminds me of some very lovely folk tales and folk songs reflecting similar ethos. Narrative is quite gripping. Thanks.

1 0 Reply
Fabrizio Frosini 10 September 2015

La niña del bello rostro sigue cogiendo aceituna, con el brazo gris del viento ceñido por la cintura. a beautiful imagery and an enticing message...

4 0 Reply
Robert Rorabeck 05 April 2008

Lorca is one of the very best.... what powerful, haunting images

3 1 Reply
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