In memoriam

Do you remember that you wanted to be Marguerite

Gautier? Your extravagant face is fixed in my mind
from when we had dinner together, on our first date,
on a joyful evening that will never come back.

Your scarleted lips of blackest purple,
they sipped champagne out of fine baccarat,
as your fingers dis-petalled the white daisy:
"Yes. . ., no don’t; yes . ., no don’t . . . " And you knew I adored you already!

Afterwards, oh hysterical flower, you laughed and laughed;
I had both your kisses and tears in my mouth;
your laughter, your fragrances, your complaints were all mine.

And on one sad afternoon amongst those sweetest days,

Death, the jealous one, to see if you loved me,
like a daisy of love stripped you bare!

Important to know that the word for “daisy” in Spanish is “margarita”; and the name Marguerite Gautier refers to the courtesan in the Dumas novel Camille on which Verdi’s La Traviata is based.

Margarita
In memoriam

¿Recuerdas que querías ser una Margarita
Gautier? Fijo en mi mente tu extraño rostro está;
cuando cenamos juntos, en la primera cita,
en una noche alegre que nunca volverá.

Tus labios escarlatas de púrpura maldita
sorbian el champaña del fino baccarat;
tus dedos deshojaban la blanca margarita:
“Sí . . ., no; sí . . ., no . . .” !y sabías que te adoraba ya!

Después !oh flor de histeria! llorablas y reías;
tus besos y tus lágrimas tuve en mi boca yo;
tus risas, tus fragancias, tus quejas eran mías.

Y en una tarde triste de los más dulces días,
las Muerte, la celosa, por ver si me querías,
como una margarita de amor !te deshojó!