Sajak Pablo Neruda
Para lelaki itu semua di dalam di ruang,
Ketika dia datang, sepenuhnya telanjang.
Para lelaki telah mabuk: muncratkan ludah.
Dia benar-benar baru di situ, datang
dari sungai itu, tak ada yang dia tahu.
Dia putri duyung, dia tersesat jalan.
Serapah sumpah tumpah, tubuhnya sinar basah.
Kata-kata cabul kuyup, gemerlap payudaranya sayup.
Dia tak tahu air mata, dia tak mengusap air mata.
Dita tak tahu pakaian, dia tak tak punya apa-apa.
Mereka melemparinya tutup botol dan puntung.
lalu bergulingan tertawa di lantai kedai minum.
Dia tak mengucap apa-apa karena tak punya kata.
Dari matanya memancar warna, cinta nun jauh di sana,
dua belah tangannya bagai permata putih cempaka.
Bibirnya bergetar, suara bisu, karang bercahaya.
dan seketika dia bergegas keluar menuju pintu.
Lalu menyatui sungai, membasuh tubuh
bersinar bagai batu putih dibelai hujan.
dan tanpa menoleh lagi dia berenang kembali.
menjelang ke kekosongan, mendekat ke kematian.
* Dari Fable of the Mermaid and the Drunks
dalam kumpulan Sajak Estravagario
----
Fable of the Mermaid and the Drunks
All those men were there inside,
when she came in totally naked.
They had been drinking: they began to spit.
Newly come from the river, she knew nothing.
She was a mermaid who had lost her way.
The insults flowed down her gleaming flesh.
Obscenities drowned her golden breasts.
Not knowing tears, she did not weep tears.
Not knowing clothes, she did not have clothes.
They blackened her with burnt corks and cigarette stubs,
and rolled around laughing on the tavern floor.
She did not speak because she had no speech.
Her eyes were the colour of distant love,
her twin arms were made of white topaz.
Her lips moved, silent, in a coral light,
and suddenly she went out by that door.
Entering the river she was cleaned,
shining like a white stone in the rain,
and without looking back she swam again
swam towards emptiness, swam towards death.
