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A Poem by Gabriela Mistral

john baker, July 10th, 2008. One comment. Filed under literature.

Those Who Do Not Dance

A crippled child
Said, “How shall I dance?”
Let your heart dance
We said.

Then the invalid said:
“How shall I sing?”
Let your heart sing
We said

Then spoke the poor dead thistle,
“But I, how shall I dance?”
Let your heart fly to the wind
We said.

Then God spoke from above
“How shall I descend from the blue?”
Come dance for us here in the light
We said.

All the valley is dancing
Together under the sun,
And the heart of him who joins us not
Is turned to dust, to dust.

English version by Helene Masslo Anderson

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One Response to “A Poem by Gabriela Mistral”

  1. dominique says:
    21st April 2009 at 10:20 am

    why can i not find this in spanish? do you have the original poem by Gabriela?

    jb says: It’s very easy to search the internet. I found this in about 20 seconds: http://www.poemas-del-alma.com/los-que-no-danzan.htm

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