THREE POEMS BY OCTAVIO PAZ

Translated by John Frederick Nims

The afternoon, its lazy ways,
And night, the shadows that amass.
Between the two, a girl. Her gaze.
Forgets her essay, work for class,
Soul in that staring reverie.
Light on the wall goes black at last.
On dawn of life, on dark to be
Poring? “Oh nowhere” — vaguely, though.
Transparent, that infinity.
Was gazing where she’ll never know.