The Queen

By Pablo Neruda (translated by Anna Öberg)

I have appointed you Queen.

There are those more slender than you, more slender.

There are those purer than you, purer.

There are those fairer than you, fairer.

But you are Queen.

As you walk the streets

Nobody recognizes you.

Nobody sees your crown of crystal,

nobody notices

The red and gold carpet

You tread wherever you go,

The carpet that does not exist.

And when you appear

All the rivers

Of my body ripple, bells

Make the skies tremble

And a song of praise fills the world.

Only you and I,

Only you and I, my love

Can hear it.