What I Left, For You Poem by Rafael Alberti

For you I left my woods, my lost
Grove, my sleepless dogs,
My important years, those banished
Almost to my life's winter.

I left a tremor, a shock
A brilliance of un-extinguished fire,
I left my shadow on the desperate
Blood-stained eyes of farewell.

I left sad doves beside a river,
Horses in the sand of the arena,
I left the scent of the sea, I left to see you.

For you, I left everything that was mine.
Give me, Rome, in exchange for my pains,
All I have left in order to attain you.