10 LYRICS BY LORCA: 4 Withered Orange Tree

Like the previous two poems, 'Canción del Naranjo Seco' was published in Lorca's 1927 collection Canciones (Songs). It is worth noting that the theme of Lorca's late play Yerma (1935) is that of a childless woman desperate to conceive.

Canción del Naranjo Seco                          Withered Orange Tree

Leñador.                                                                  Hey, woodchopper,
Córtame la sombre.                                                 hack me some shade.
Líbrame del suplicio                                                Cut me loose from the rack
de verme sín toronjas.                                             of seeing me fruitless.

¿ Por qué  nací entre espejos ?                                Why was I born between mirrors?
El día me da vueltas.                                               The daylight spins me
Y la noche me copia                                                and the night multiplies me
en todas sus estrellas.                                             into all her stars.

Quiero vivir sin verme.                                            I'd love to live not seeing me.
Y hormigas y vilanos,                                               And will dream of ants
soñaré que son mis                                                  and thistledown as
hojas y mis párajos.                                                 my leafy and my birdy.

Leñador.                                                                   Hey, woodchopper,
Córtame la sombre.                                                  hack me some shade.
Líbrame del suplicio                                                 Cut me loose from the rack
de verme sín toronjas.                                              of seeing me fruitless.