Translation:The Black Heralds (1918)/The Stones

by César Vallejo

 
This morning I descended
to the stones, oh the stones!
And I spurred and traded
a clash of stones.

Mother of ours, if my steps
cause harm in this world,
it’s because they’re the flashes
of an absurd awakening.

Stones don’t offend; envy
nothing. They only ask for
love towards all, and they ask for
love even to Nothing.

And if some of them go on
with their heads bowed, or go on
ashamed, it’s because
they must do something human...

But, included among them are ones
that strike others for the sake of it.
Such a white stone is the moon
that flew from a kick...

Mother of ours, this morning
I ran the vines of ivy around myself
upon seeing the blue caravan
of the stones,
of the stones,
of the stones.