48
FRIEND
I want you to be my crystal,
you're so bright and clear.
I want to look through you
to the world's essence
of soot or beauty,
whichever way the day invents it.
Your presence here, yes,
always facing me
but always invisible,
true presence without my seeing you.
Crystal. Never a mirror!
Pedro Salinas, 1929
English Translation by David Lee Garrison