Henry Thoreau wrote with Sophia Elizabeth Thoreau’s help to Myron B. Benton.
Dear Sir,—
I thank you for your very kind letter, which, ever since I
received it, I have intended to answer before I died, however
briefly. I am encouraged to know, that, so far as you are
concerned, I have not written my books in vain. I was
particularly gratified, some years ago, when one of my friends
and neighbors said, “I wish you would write another book,—write
it for me.” He is actually more familiar with what I have written
than I am myself.
The verses you refer to in Conway’s “Dial,” were written
by F. B. Sanborn of this town. I never wrote for that journal.
I am pleased when you say that in “The Week” you like
especially “those little snatches of poetry interspersed through
the book,” for these, I suppose, are the least attractive to
most readers. I have not been engaged in any particular work on
Botany, or the like, though, if I were to live, I should have
much to report on Natural History generally.
You ask particularly after my health. I suppose that I have
not many months to live; but, of course, I know nothing about
it. I may add that I am enjoying existence as much as ever, and
regret nothing.
Yours truly,
Henry D. Thoreau,
by S. E. Thoreau.
Dear Sir,—
I thank you for your very kind letter, which, ever since I
received it, I have intended to answer before I died, however
briefly. I am encouraged to know, that, so far as you are
concerned, I have not written my books in vain. I was
particularly gratified, some years ago, when one of my friends
and neighbors said, “I wish you would write another book,—write
it for me.” He is actually more familiar with what I have written
than I am myself.
The verses you refer to in Conway’s “Dial,” were written
by F. B. Sanborn of this town. I never wrote for that journal.
I am pleased when you say that in “The Week” you like
especially “those little snatches of poetry interspersed through
the book,” for these, I suppose, are the least attractive to
most readers. I have not been engaged in any particular work on
Botany, or the like, though, if I were to live, I should have
much to report on Natural History generally.
You ask particularly after my health. I suppose that I have
not many months to live; but, of course, I know nothing about
it. I may add that I am enjoying existence as much as ever, and
regret nothing.
Yours truly,
Henry D. Thoreau,
by S. E. Thoreau.
POEMA, HERMANAS
Hermanas os he visto en la montaña
cuando vuestros mantos verdes ondeaban al viento
He visto vuestras huellas sobre la playa plana de los lagos,
menor que la del hombre, un rastro más etéreo.
He oído de vosotras como de una raza de antigua fama-
Hijas de los dioses a quienes un día debería encontrar-
O madres, podría decir, de toda nuestra raza.
Reverencio vuestras naturalezas como la mía,
aunque extrañamente diferente, igual y desigual a la vez
Vosotras sóis el único extranjero que se cruzó en mi camino
Aceptar mi hospitalidad-dejarme oír
el mensaje que traéis
Hechas diferentes de mí
Quizás diseñadas para ser
la criatura de un destino diferente.
No sé quiénes sóis que dóciles aguántais
codo con codo con el hombre en cada lugar.
Cuando formásteis la alianza de nuestra raza,
vosotras, hijas de la luna, en las noches plácidas,
saltásteis sobre las colinas y explorásteis la tierra.
Reverlarme aquello que temo que no podáis decir
dónde estáis vosotras y no yo, dónde habitáis
que nunca puedo llegar allí.
Qué es lo que lo impulsa y aprecio tanto
Qué hace a los soles: el brillo o su energía para los cultivos
Qué es lo que lo impulsa y nunca debería olvidar,
Tengo hermanas sentadas esperando todavía por mí
y que son hermanas
El hombre adulto que puede luchar con valor,
a duras penas puede vivir en este mundo desolado,
y quien lo es, os defiende y allana vuestro camino.
HDT
(Traducción de Guillermo Ruiz)
HDT
(Traducción de Guillermo Ruiz)
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