Soineko koadroduna
Eguzki bizia, margultzen dituzuna
Nire gelako gortinak, ezin al duzu
Daramadan soineko hau kolorgetu?
Koadro bortitz hauek
Amorru purpurenak eta lotsa gorrienak; marra horia,
Traizio mehe baina errimeena; berde deigarria, gogo hilaz
Egindako ekintza onberena, arinki emandako epai handiena;
Gustu onaren falta larriaren lauki errepikaria?
Ezin da koloregabetu, desegin baino gehiago,
Beldur naiz, kentzerik ez dudan arropa hau;
Aitorpenak ezin erantzi nau,
Etxerantz baketurik eta gorri bidaltzeko;
Gau formal kaltegabe osoan zehar, ile garbi
Distiratsuaren azpitik,
Soineko luze sotilaren pean... Ez da ageri;
Bertan da, haatik.
The Plaid Dress
Strong sun, that bleach / The curtains of my room, can you not render / Colourless this dress I wear?— / This violent plaid / Of purple angers and red shames; the yellow stripe / Of thin but valid treacheries; the flashy green of kind deeds done / Through indolence, high judgments given in haste; / The recurring checker of the serious breach of taste? // No more uncoloured than unmade, / I fear, can be this garment that I may not doff; / Confession does not strip it off, / To send me homeward eased and bare; // All through the formal, unoffending evening, under the clean / Bright hair, / Lining the subtle gown ... it is not seen, / But it is there.