Another Song by the Same Lady to Some Live Partridges that They Sent to Her
A translation into English of Otra canción de la misma señora a unas perdices que le enviaron vivas, a canción by Florencia Pinar. Translation by Valerie Hegstrom.
Translator's note: In this translation, I have sought to represent the syllable count and rhyme scheme of the source text. I also tried to echo Pinar's pun on the words perdices and perdiendo by using the words "partridges" and "parting" in my translation.
Translation
Of these birds it is the fashion
to sing with contented delight,
and seeing them here in prison
I feel a great and heavy passion,
and yet no one feels my plight.
The birds cry out for they had thought
they’d never be a captor’s toy
and those with whom they were most coy
are now the same who have them caught.
Their names will be my life undone,
from which is parting all delight,
and to see them here in prison
I feel a great and heavy passion,
and yet no one feels my plight.