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Profesor de sollozo –he dicho a un árbol–
palo de azogue, tilo
rumoreante, a la orilla del Mame, un buen alumno
leyendo va en tu naipe, en tu hojarasca,
entre el agua evidente y el sol falso,
su tres de copas, su caballo de oros.

Rector de los capítulos del cielo,
de la mosca ardiente, de la calma manual que hay en los asnos;
rector de honda ignorancia, un mal alumno
leyendo va en tu naipe, en tu hojarasca,
el hambre de razón que le enloquece
y la sed de demencia que le aloca.

Técnico en gritos, árbol consciente, fuerte,
fluvial, doble, solar, doble, fanático,
conocedor de rosas cardinales, totalmente
metido, hasta hacer sangre, en aguijones, un alumno
leyendo va en tu naipe, en tu hojarasca,
su rey precoz, telúrico, volcánico, de espadas.

¡Oh profesor, de haber tánto ignorado!
¡oh rector, de temblar tánto en el aire!
¡oh técnico, de tánto que te inclinas!
¡Oh tilo! ¡oh palo rumoroso junto al Marne!

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Professor of sobbing —I have said to a tree-
quicksilver stick, linden tree
rumorous, on the banks of the Mame, a good student
reading goes in your deck of card, in your littered leaf,
between the obvious water and the false sun,
your three of cups, your knight of gold.

Rector of the chapters of the heavens,
of the fervent fly, of the manual calm there is in the asses;
rector of deep ignorance, a bad pupil
is reading goes in your deck of card, in your littered leaves,
the hunger for reason that makes him mad
and the thirst of insanity that drives him mad.

Expert in screams, conscious tree, strong,
fluvial, double, solar, double, fanatic,
connoisseur of cardinal roses, totally
into stings, a pupil reading goes on your deck of card, a student
reading goes in your deck of card, in your littered leaf,
his precocious king, telluric, volcanic, of swords.

O professor, from having been ignored so much!
O rector, from trembling so much in the air!
O expert, from so much that you bow to!
O linden tree! O rumorous stick by the Marne!

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Translated from Spanish to English by Stephen Cole.