Los Tres Reyes Magos
"Los Tres Reyes Magos" is a poem about the three kings who bore gifts to the baby Jesus. It was written by Rubén Darío, a Nicaraguan poet (born Félix Rubén García Sarmiento, 1867-1916).
Los Tres Reyes Magos
The Three Kings
Poema del día de los Reyes
Three Kings' Day Poem
(Spanish)
(English)
-Yo soy Gaspar. Aquí traigo el incienso.
Vengo a decir: La vida es pura y bella.
Existe Dios. El amor es inmenso.
¡Todo lo sé por la divina Estrella!
-Yo soy Melchor. Mi mirra aroma todo.
Existe Dios. Él es la luz del día.
¡La blanca flor tiene sus pies en lodo
y en el placer hay la melancolía!
-Soy Baltasar. Traigo el oro. Aseguro
que existe Dios. Él es el grande y fuerte.
Todo lo sé por el lucero puro
que brilla en la diadema de la Muerte.
-Gaspar, Melchor y Baltasar, callaos.
Triunfa el amor y a su fiesta os convida.
¡Cristo resurge, hace la luz del caos
y tiene la corona de la Vida!
I am Gaspar. Here I bring the incense.
I've come to say: Life is pure and beautiful.
God exists. Love is immense.
I know all this by the divine star!
I am Melchior. My myrrh perfumes everything.
God exists. He's the light of day.
The white flower has its feet in the mud,
And in pleasure there is melancholy.
I am Balthazar. I have the gold. I assure you
That God exists. He's the great and strong one.
I know all this from the pure star
Glowing in the crown of Death.
-Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar, quiet down.
Love triumphs and invites you to her feast.
Christ emerges, makes light out of chaos
And holds the crown of Life!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translated by Lisa Yannucci and Monique Palomares.
Image: Wikimedia - "Magi" by Nina-no - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy: The Three Wise Men" (named Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar). Detail from: "Mary and Child, surrounded by angels", mosaic of a Ravennate italian-byzantine workshop, completed within 526 AD by the so-called "Master of Sant'Apollinare".