What Would They Say? Poem by Alfonsina Storni
What Would They Say?
What would the people say, reduced and empty,
If one fortuitous day, by some extreme fantasy,
I were to dye my hair silvery and violet, were to wear an old greek gown, exchanging the comb
for a circlet of flowers: forget-me-nots or jasmines,
were to sing through the streets to the rhythm of the violins,
or were to read my verses aloud, traveling the plazas
my gusto freed of common gags?
Would they go to watch me, covering the sidewalks?
Would they burn me like they burned enchantresses?
Would they ring the bells, calling to mass?
In truth, when I think of it, I laugh a little.
A thought provoking and meaningful poem. Thanks for sharing.
I enjoy reading her poems she might have good reason she was not fan or fun of men.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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1/23/2025 4:04:57 AM # 1.0.0
As a sparser poet, 'reduced and empty' speaks a lot to me. I wouldn't like to draw any observation on Alfonsina's effusions; nor would I - would less - vaunt her maturer poems when she was suffering from cancer: a whole world (" the globe" ;) , reflected on the surface of a teardrop, like a fisheye lens.