A Corner of Valivija

A Corner of Valivija

O Nabu Malikata, Eternal beauty who absolves our sins, Mother of all inspiration and madness. Hurry now. Make haste with the wine's bright splendor, And bloom in scarlet upon my golden cup. O Nabu Malikata, Eternal beauty who absolves our sins, Mother of all inspiration and madness. The king in red offers you a crown of gold. Your languid, wine-bright eyes Unmoor the hearts of lovers. Divine and intoxicating spirit! Deaf to the prayers of those who drink. If I dare weigh your face against the flowering fields, My heart recoils in shame. For whosoever gazes upon your likeness Shall fall into a madness such as mine. O Nabu Malikata, Eternal beauty who absolves our sins, Mother of all inspiration and madness. However steadfast our devotion, You give nothing back, and your heart remains unmoved. But how could the joys of heaven ever belong to the earth? Ecstasy is hidden in the wine of the rose. It is only because we are steeped In your boundless, unending grace, That we think you have no tenderness at all. O Nabu Malikata, Eternal beauty who absolves our sins, Mother of all inspiration and madness. The princess in azure skirts knows your secrets. Come, listen now! To love, and to life Carried upon the morning wind through the forest, Echoing in the cup from which you both drink. The rose always hides behind its veil. A nightingale slips into my garden, Singing of shame and sorrow, Then takes wing and leaves once more.