Silencio

Commissioned by Texas A&M-Kingsville percussion faculty, Jason Kihle, Silencio was loosely inspired by the Pablo Neruda poem “Es la mañana elena” (‘Tis the morrow of storm). Originally written in Spanish, of course, my favorite English translation is by J.B. Donne:

‘Tis the morrow full of storm
in the heart of the summer.

The wandering hands of the wind shake the clouds
like white handkerchiefs waved in farewell.

Innumerable heart of the wind
fluttering over our loving silence.

Orchestral and divine, resounding among the trees,
like a tongue full of songs and wars.

Wind that lifts the fallen leaves in robbery
and turns the palpitating flight of the birds.

Wind that throws them down in foamless waves
and weightless shapes, and falling flames.

Their volume of kisses breaks and sinks
fought at the gate of the summer wind.
From "Veinte Poemas de Amor y Una Canión Desesperada" by Pablo Neruda, translated by J.B. Donne