



Llagas de amor – Sonetos del amor oscuro – Federico García Lorca – 1936 – with translation into English and Italian by Enzo Martinelli
© 2019 Enzo Martinelli

🇪🇸 Llagas de amor, de Federico García Lorca
Esta luz, este fuego que devora.
Este paisaje gris que me rodea.
Este dolor por una sola idea.
Esta angustia de cielo, mundo y hora.
Este llanto de sangre que decora
lira sin pulso ya, lúbrica tea.
Este peso del mar que me golpea.
Este alacrán que por mi pecho mora.
Son guirnalda de amor, cama de herido,
donde sin sueño, sueño tu presencia
enter las ruinas de mi pecho hundido.
Y aunque busco la cumbre de prudencia
me da tu corazón valle tendido
con cicuta y pasión de amarga ciencia.

🇬🇧 Love Wounds, by Federico García Lorca
This light, this devouring fire.
This gray landscape that suffocates me.
This pain for a fixed idea.
This anguish of heaven, of the world and of now.
This cry of blood that is already decorating
without a pulse, slimy torch.
This weight of the sea that troubles me.
This scorpion that dwells in my chest.
I am a wreath of love, a bed of a wounded man,
where without sleep, I dream of your presence
among the ruins of my struck chest.
And even though I yearn for the summit of prudence
your heart leads me to a tense valley
with the hemlock and passion of bitter science.

🇮🇹 Piaghe d’amore, di Federico García Lorca
Questa luce, questo fuoco che divora.
Questo paesaggio grigio che mi asfissia.
Questo dolore per un'idea fissa.
Questa angoscia di cielo, di mondo e d'ora.
Questo pianto di sangue che decora
lira già senza polso, viscida torcia.
Questo peso del mare che mi angoscia.
Questo scorpione che nel mio petto dimora.
Sono ghirlanda d'amore, letto di ferito,
dove senza dormire, sogno la tua presenza
tra le rovine del mio petto colpito.
E anche se bramo il vertice della prudenza
il tuo cuore mi porta in un valle disteso
con cicuta e passione d'amara scienza.
🇫🇷 Plaies d’amour, di Federico García Lorca
Cette lumière, ce feu dévorant.
Ce paysage gris qui m'entoure.
Cette douleur pour une seule idée.
Cette angoisse du ciel, du monde et du temps.
Ce cri de sang qui orne
ma lyre sans cœur, un feu de deuil.
Ce poids de la mer qui me frappe.
Ce scorpion qui habite mon sein.
Ils sont une guirlande d'amour, un lit d'homme blessé,
où sans sommeil, je rêve de ta présence
dans les ruines de ma poitrine engloutie.
Et si je cherche le sommet de la prudence,
ton cœur me donne une vallée tendue
de ciguë et de passion d'une science amère.

Federico García Lorca, a luminary of Spanish literature, possessed an uncanny ability to weave intricate emotions into the tapestry of his poetry. In his sonnet “Llagas de amor,” or “Wounds of Love,” Lorca demonstrates his mastery in capturing the tumultuous nature of human desire and the deep-seated vulnerabilities that accompany it. This critical introduction delves into the sonnet’s themes, poetic techniques, and its reflection of Lorca’s distinctive poetic vision.
**The Sonnet’s Evocative Nature**
“Llagas de amor” is a sonnet that throbs with emotion, encapsulating Lorca’s gift for painting vivid emotional landscapes through language. The title alone sets the tone for a poem brimming with both ecstasy and pain, an intriguing contradiction that mirrors the multifaceted essence of love itself. Through this title, Lorca beckons readers into an exploration of the complex interplay between pleasure and suffering, a thematic current that ripples throughout the sonnet.

**The Visual and Tactile Imagery**
At the heart of “Llagas de amor” lies the power of Lorca’s imagery—language that forges sensory experiences in the minds of readers. The sonnet conjures a vivid imagery of lips resembling “pebbles,” adorned with a “wound of rose.” This juxtaposition of the rough and the delicate, the thorny and the fragrant, embodies the paradoxical nature of love’s impact. The vivid imagery not only appeals to the reader’s senses but also becomes a vehicle for conveying the dualities inherent in love’s embrace.
**Symbolism and Inner Conflict**
The symbolic undercurrents within “Llagas de amor” amplify its emotional depth. The “wounds” in the poem function as more than a physical description; they emerge as symbolic marks left by love’s fervor. These “wounds” embody the scars that love leaves behind—signs of an ardor that transforms and shapes the soul. The depiction of “thirst” and “appetite” heightens the portrayal of an insatiable longing, suggesting an inner conflict between yearning and fulfillment.
**The Cadence of Emotion**
Lorca’s adeptness at crafting rhythm and meter lends a unique musicality to his poetry, a quality palpable in “Llagas de amor.” The sonnet’s rhythm mirrors the ebb and flow of emotions, creating a symphonic resonance within its confines. The repetition of the phrase “Llagas de amor” becomes a rhythmic refrain, echoing the throbbing heartbeat of passion and underscoring the inescapable nature of love’s impact.

**An Unveiling of the Soul**
The most striking aspect of “Llagas de amor” is Lorca’s unreserved revelation of the human soul’s vulnerabilities. The poem’s speaker bares their desires and emotional wounds without restraint. This unfiltered honesty establishes an intimate connection between the speaker and the reader, inviting us into the depths of the human experience. In this unveiling, Lorca mirrors the human tendency to expose the most fragile aspects of the self when consumed by intense emotions.
**In Conclusion**
Federico García Lorca’s sonnet “Llagas de amor” is a microcosm of his poetic prowess—an encapsulation of emotional depth, vivid imagery, and thematic complexity. With an ability to evoke contrasting sensations and a lyrical cadence that resonates with the rhythm of passion, Lorca crafts a masterpiece that captures the inherent contradictions within love. “Llagas de amor” stands as a testament to Lorca’s ability to illuminate the raw emotions that pulse beneath the surface of the human heart, a testament to his enduring legacy as a poet who embraced the intricacies of the human experience.
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