Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

José Manuel Arango

DANCE WITH ME, GIRL

                                 (after Anacreon)



The girl, with the hair almost blue
and large, sparkling eyes
waves, excited by the music.

She spins round her slender hips,
she shakes her bare arms,
she wiggles her bosom.

I have been, with a glass in my hand,
lingeringly watching her dance.

Until I make up my mind and get up
and stretch out my arm inviting her,
and muttering, in the uproar of the music,
under my breath:

Dance with me, girl.
I will not let you see my loose
and brittle teeth,
or notice my hoary temples.

And she turns her smiling eyes
and comes dancing in my direction
and passes by my side and

goes to embrace an adolescent
with splendid teeth.

Baila conmigo, muchacha

Baila conmigo, muchacha

                                                (Al modo de Anacreonte)



La muchacha, de pelo casi azul
y largos ojos chispeantes,
se agita, azogada por la música.

Hace girar las esbeltas caderas,
sacude los hombros desnudos,
menea los pechos.

He estado, con el vaso en la mano,
morosamente viéndola bailar.

Hasta que me decido y me levanto
y extiendo el brazo invitándola,
y diciendo, entre el alboroto de la música,
para mi capote:

Baila conmigo, muchacha.
No te dejaré ver mis dientes
flojos y quebradizos,
no repares en mis sienes canosas.

Y ella vuelve los ojos sonrientes
y viene hacia mí bailando
y pasa al lado mío y

va a abrazarse con un adolescente
de dientes esplendidos.
Close

DANCE WITH ME, GIRL

                                 (after Anacreon)



The girl, with the hair almost blue
and large, sparkling eyes
waves, excited by the music.

She spins round her slender hips,
she shakes her bare arms,
she wiggles her bosom.

I have been, with a glass in my hand,
lingeringly watching her dance.

Until I make up my mind and get up
and stretch out my arm inviting her,
and muttering, in the uproar of the music,
under my breath:

Dance with me, girl.
I will not let you see my loose
and brittle teeth,
or notice my hoary temples.

And she turns her smiling eyes
and comes dancing in my direction
and passes by my side and

goes to embrace an adolescent
with splendid teeth.

DANCE WITH ME, GIRL

                                 (after Anacreon)



The girl, with the hair almost blue
and large, sparkling eyes
waves, excited by the music.

She spins round her slender hips,
she shakes her bare arms,
she wiggles her bosom.

I have been, with a glass in my hand,
lingeringly watching her dance.

Until I make up my mind and get up
and stretch out my arm inviting her,
and muttering, in the uproar of the music,
under my breath:

Dance with me, girl.
I will not let you see my loose
and brittle teeth,
or notice my hoary temples.

And she turns her smiling eyes
and comes dancing in my direction
and passes by my side and

goes to embrace an adolescent
with splendid teeth.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère